As quickly as it popped up, Monday’s David Pastrnak trade rumour is being shot down by both sides.
“Not trading Pastrnak,” Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney emailed the Boston Globe Monday night.
Sweeney was responding to requests for comment on the following tweet, sent Monday by NHL Network analyst and former Tampa Bay Lightning GM Brian Lawton:
Lawton’s tweet was picked up by several hockey news outlets and sent more than a few Bruins fans into panic mode. Stars Joe Thornton, Phil Kessel, Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton were all traded by the organization before they reached their prime.
Sweeney was running the show when contract talks stalled with Hamilton, and the top-four defenceman was dealt to Calgary for a trio of draft picks.
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J.P. Barry, Pastrnak’s agent, also addressed his client’s contract situation with the Globe Tuesday.
“We will continue to negotiate — we still have lots of time,” Barry wrote in an email to the newspaper. “David prefers to sign a longer-term deal with the Bruins.
“The negotiations between myself and Don have been very open and both sides understand each other’s positions. Hopefully we can agree on an overall structure that is amenable to both sides in the next month.”
Pastrnak is one of the most dynamic restricted free agents still without a contract for 2017-18.
The 21-year-old scored a career-high 34 goals and 70 points this past season but holds no arbitration rights.
The Bruins already have four forwards making at least $6 million a year, two defencemen making more than $4 million a year and a $7-million goaltender.
Pastrnak is rumoured to be asking for in excess of $6 million per year on a long-term deal.
“We want David, and David certainly reiterated a number of times that he wants to play here and stay here,” Boston president Cam Neely told reporters back on May 2. “He loves it here. So I feel confident we can get something done with him.”
Bruins training camp opens Sept. 14.
