Report: Bruins could explore trading superstar winger to start rebuild this summer
After Bruce Cassidy was fired by the Bruins yesterday, it all but signalled that their cup window had closed. Bergeron and Marchand are, while still productive and effective, nearing the end of their careers and their defense corps in in shambles with half of it on LTIR for the first half of the 2022-23 season at least. With next year looking like it will be a down year for the Bruins, there is no speculation that the team could look at trading superstar winger David Pastrnak to kickstart a rebuild.
Bruins reporter Fluor Shinwaza reported today that the Bruins could be persuaded to deal the superstar winger should they be blown away by an offer. It goes without saying that the offer would have to be beyond significant. Pastrnak is far and away the Bruins' best trade piece to start a rebuild with. He will be entering the final year of his current 6-year contract that pays him $6.66M and will be due for a massive raise.
At age 26, Pastrnak is just entering the prime of his career and could be looking for a deal that would pay him north of $9.5M-$10M annually. The Bruins will have 9 UFAs at the end of next season, possibly 10 if Bergeron decides to re-sign on a year by year basis, which would send the Bruins into a cap crunch frenzy.
Another Bruins report is calling the report "fake news" saying that there was no indication in the report from Shinwaza that it is a priority, but rather Pastrnak would be reluctant to sign an extension should the Bruins enter a rebuild this season.
With a number of injuries sidelining key players for the first half of the season, trading Pastrnak would make some sense if ownership and senior management is leaning towards a rebuild. Should they do so, Bruins fans should hope that Sweeney doesn't screw up the first round picks he gets for Pastrnak the way he did in the 2015 draft.
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
POLL |
JUIN 7 | 300 ANSWERS Report: Bruins could explore trading superstar winger to start rebuild this summer Should the Bruins move Pastrnak? |
Yes | 106 | 35.3 % |
No | 118 | 39.3 % |
They should but they won't | 76 | 25.3 % |
List of polls |
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