3 future RFAs who can benefit from Pastrnak's market-stabilizing extension
The highly publicized contract saga between the Boston Bruins and star winger David Pastrnak came to a justifiable conclusion Thursday, as the two sides agreed to a six-year, $40-million extension that kicks in for the start of the 2017-18 season.
The negotiations threatened to linger into training camp and beyond, but general manager Don Sweeney ultimately brokered a deal that pays his youngest asset appropriately, and doesn't harm the Bruins' salary cap moving forward.
Pastrnak may have wanted more, but the contracts signed by Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Johansen this summer, which he reportedly used as comparables in negotiations, only proved there is a considerable difference between what centermen and wingers should make.
Only four players at Pastrnak's position outproduced him in 2016-17. While his new $6.67M cap hit might not match that of his elite peers as well as his production does, his reasonable price will serve as a reference point for these three players who have the potential to enter Pastrnak's echelon this season, and use it as leverage when negotiating their own deals.
Nikolaj Ehlers
Pastrnak, alongside possession wizards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, form one of the most formidable lines in the NHL. Ehlers, meanwhile, has the opportunity to play in a trio of similar ilk in Winnipeg, suiting up with Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine.
In his second season in the league, Ehlers points-per-game average jumped considerably from 0.58 to 0.78. In other words, he bagged 64 points over 82 games in a fine 2016-17 season where he emerged as a vital playmaking piece to the Jets' potent offense.
Ehlers has one more year on his entry-level contract, and another season improving his production could put him in a position to land a contract that pays similarly to Pastrnak's.
William Nylander
Nylander and Pastrnak are longtime friends and former teammates. Soon, the 21-year-olds may be basking in the glory of similar multimillion-dollar contracts.
Through 103 career games, Nylander has averaged 0.71 points per, which matches Pastrnak's career mark, albeit in 69 fewer contests. Nylander was a central figure in the Maple Leafs' progression to a playoff team a season ago, and there's little reason to believe he can't improve upon a 61-point output.
If Nylander can eclipse 70 points or so in his final entry-level season, he'll be well on track to match Pastrnak's pay, and that should sit well with a Maple Leafs organization that will need to pay Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner soon enough.
Patrik Laine
In terms of young, pure snipers, Laine might be the only player that can beat Pastrnak at his own game.
Laine netted 36 goals in his rookie season, though there were times when it looked like he was capable of reaching 50 and beyond. Laine's situation, however is different than Ehler's and Nylander's, as he has two full seasons to play before he has to sign a new contract.
Still, Laine is technically eligible to put pen to paper next July 1, and if he continues his goal-scoring assault into year two, he could benefit from Pastrnak's pact in a completely different sense than the others, potentially using it as a low point to leverage an even more lucrative deal.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)