INSIGHT: How much should the Bruins pay Pastrnak?

Some of the contract comparisons will shock you.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
INSIGHT: How much should the Bruins pay Pastrnak?
Keystone Press

With David Pastrnak being named player of the game in last night’s 3-1 loss for the Czech’s to the Swiss in IIHF World Championships action, Bruins fans once again found themselves discussing their beloved “Pasta” on social media once again. The 20 year-old broke out in a big way in 2016-17 and stands to cash in BIG TIME with the Boston Bruins this summer.

Coming off a three year, entry-level contract that earned him $935,000 annually, Pastrnak put up 34 goals and 70 points in 74 games this season with the Bruins and, rest assured, will get paid handsomely this summer. The question is, how much will he get paid? And what sort of term will the Bruins commit to the young goal scorer?

Rumors have Pastnak and his representation using St Louis Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko as a comparable. Tarasenko, of course, recently signed a whopping 8 year, $60 million contract. Pastrnak is unlikely to command those kind of dollars, but comparisons to Calgary Flames stars Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan aren’t far off. Neither are comparisons to Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and Winnipeg Jets pivot Mark Scheifele. All of the above mentioned players are young and accomplished, but Pastrnak is the youngest of all and may have the highest potential.

In fact, Pastrnak is so young would it even make sense, on his behalf, to agree to such a long-term deal? Who’s to say that he can’t surpass all of the comparisons in terms of production within the next season or two? If that were the case, he’d be selling himself short.

Whatever the number ends up being for Pastrnak and the Bruins, it’s clear that the young Czech is a natural fit alongside Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. It’s unlikely that the team jerks him around too much with regards to dollars and term. But until ink is set to paper, you can’t blame Bruins fans for feeling nervous.