Update released on David Pastrnak contract negotiations

The Boston Bruins are off to a historic start in the 2022-23 NHL season, having already set a new league record for having won their first 12 home games of the schedule while also leading the League in points. Needless to say, rumors of the demise of the Bruins by both fans and pundits alike before the start of this season were greatly exaggerated. Boston is firing on all cylinders and getting contributions from every corner of the lineup, including from top forward David Pastrnak.

The man affectionately known as "Pasta" is on pace to eclipse the 50 goal mark, having already scored 14 goals with 17 assists in 22 games played. But the main question on the minds of Bruins fans everywhere is his status with the team beyond this season. Pastrnak can be come one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents this coming summer, and there hasn't been much progress in terms of a new lengthy extension to keep him in Boston for the long haul. 

Pastrnak's agent J.P. Barry provided an update Thursday morning to Boston Hockey Now, explaining that he remains in constant communication with GM Don Sweeney. 

“I continue to speak to Don on a regular basis. I can’t really go into specifics as it doesn’t really help the process at this stage,” Barry told BHN Thursday morning.

“J.P. [Barry] and I talk almost every day, as Pasta references,” Sweeney explained near the end of October. “Just trying to find the common ground, and hopefully we get to a point that we can announce, but we’re not there. Other than the appetites that I referenced, communication has been good. Just haven’t found the end point yet.”

It wasn't long after that when an anonymous NHL executive speculated that both Pastrnak and the Bruins were simply not going to engage in contract talks during the season, as it could be a distraction.

“Donny and the Bruins obviously don’t want that but sometimes there comes a point during a long and grueling season where both sides just shelve it for the good of the player and the team in terms of focus and that doesn’t mean they won’t sign him at all,” the NHL exec pointed out.