David Pastrnak gives latest contract update

Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak is in the midst of the final year of the six-year, $40 million deal that he inked with the Bruins in 2017. Since then, he's enjoyed two seasons of scoring 40+ goals, and reached the 500 point plateau during 2021-22. And right now, he's on pace to shatter that mark; at his current pace, he'll have lit the lamp 56 times by the time the regular season comes to a close. 

Needless to say, he's one of their most important players, and will be looked upon by the franchise to continue carrying a hefty portion of the offensive load, especially given the fact that this upcoming season could be the final NHL campaigns for popular but aging forwards Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci (who was lured back to Boston with a one year contract after spending last season overseas). 

Right now, his agent J.P. Barry as well as Bruins general manager Don Sweeney continue to discuss a new deal for the man affectionately known as "Pasta". And naturally, Barry will be using the recently signed deals of Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon as well as New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin as comparisons. 

“I still have this season left, right?” Pastrnak said. “There’s nothing to be rushed over. I know my agent’s talking to Sweens every other day. For me, it’s just hockey. I’m focusing on helping the team win and getting better.”

He also had some words for his sports peers in Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Basketball Association, who feature star players having signed contracts north of $200 and even $300 million dollars. 

“The sport differential is crazy. That kind of pisses me off too,” Pastrnak said. “But you know what? At the same time, I’m blessed I can play hockey. But the sport differential is crazy, yeah.”