The Bruins remain in a bit of a holding pattern when it comes to some key contracts. Namely, an impending extension for David Pastrnak, and how they plan to fit other important players under the cap.
The sense around Causeway St. is that the Bruins will eventually agree to an extension for Pastrnak, with an average annual value in the range of $9.5 million – the same number as his teammate, defenseman Charlie McAvoy. And from there, the other pieces should be able to fall into place.
As the Sports Hub’s own Ty Anderson explained to me in the newest episode of the Sports Hub Underground podcast, which you can listen to above, the Bruins prefer to get these contracts done in a certain order, starting with Pastrnak then following up with deals to bring back both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. In the simplest terms, they want to get Pastrnak done first, then figure out how much they can safely spend on the others.
But the actual process is more complicated than that, and ostensibly the reason why it’s taking a while for the dominoes to fall. In addition to the aforementioned trio, the Bruins have an arbitration hearing with the recently acquired Pavel Zacha set for Aug. 11.
May 6, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his power play goal with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (22) behind him during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Pastrnak is signed for 2022-23, so an extension wouldn’t kick in until 2023-24. But they’re only looking at about $4.7 million of cap space as it stands now, according to CapFriendly. And at the same time, Ty believes that the Bruins are “reluctant” to trade anyone off the main roster right now, particularly on defense, due to their injury situation. They will be without McAvoy, Brad Marchand, and Matt Grzelcyk for extended time to begin the 2022-23 season.
However, Bergeron and Krejci should still be doable. They could sign for incentive-laden deals that would max out just under $11 million, and the Bruins could stay under the overage maximum. That wouldn’t be ideal, because that money would come off their cap in 2023-24. But an in-season salary-dump trade would give them relief. And with Zacha expected to sign for more than $3 million in arbitration, they may need to place someone on long-term injured reserve to push the cap problems down the road, anyway.
Maybe your head hurts now?
Aug 19, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) and center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrate the 2-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes following game five of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
“I think if the Bruins do make a trade in-season to alleviate some bonus overage issues next summer, I think they want to wait until they’re fully healthy,” Ty said. “So right now it’s just like, you know, you’re kind of crunching all the numbers you can, every variable you’re factoring in here, like ‘How can we make this work to the best advantage for us?’ So I think that’s the holdup.
“But I do think they want to get Pastrnak taken care of first – or have a rough idea, as to what he would cost – to be taken care of before bringing back Bergeron and Krejci.”
This is all a long way of saying, the Bruins do have an ideal plan in mind to bring back Pastrnak, Bergeron, and Krejci. It’s just a convoluted path ahead of them. But it would explain the delay.
Listen above for the full episode of the latest Sports Hub Underground, which also includes Patriots training camp talk and reactions to the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuck trade.
Bruins add yet another goalie to the organization
GATINEAU, CANADA – FEBRUARY 20: Francois Brassard #30 of the Gatineau Olympiques makes a save as Charles Guevremont #90 of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens keeps position in front of the net during a game on February 20, 2015 at Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Laplante/FreestylePhoto/Getty Images)
The Boston Bruins have one of the better goaltending situations in the National Hockey League. Certainly one of the deepest.
No big changes are abound for the NHL club for 2022-23, with Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark entrenched as essentially co-starters. Another step forward for Swayman would establish him as the clear No. 1, while Ullmark played well down the stretch of the 2021-22 season and proved himself as at least a capable backup.
The newest goalie added to the Bruins organization is in the minors. The Providence Bruins announced on Saturday that they’ve signed 28-year-old journeyman François Brassard to a one-year AHL-only contract.
At age 23, Brassard played the first of three years at Carleton University in Ottawa, then bounced around the ECHL before making his AHL debut last season with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
DRUMMONDVILLE, QC – FEBRUARY 23: Francois Brassard #31 of the Quebec Remparts stops the puck on an attempt by Christophe Lalancette #10 of the Drummondville Voltigeurs during the QMJHL game at the Centre Marcel Dionne on February 23, 2014 in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)