Contracts can sometimes cause tension between teammates in NHL dressing rooms, but Brad Marchand says any deal David Pastrnak signs won't create any ill will.
“We all want to see each other be successful,” Marchand told the Boston Herald's Matt Kalman on Monday. “He had a great year last year so we’ll be very happy for him with whatever he ends up getting. The contract that he signs, (Pastrnak is) going to make a lot of money, he’s a phenomenal player, he’s 21 years old, he’s going to have a long career. We all like to see each other be successful and do well and that’s the way the game goes."
Pastrnak's agent, J.P. Barry, confirmed last week that the two sides are negotiating an eight-year contract, which would give his client the maximum amount of term under the NHL's CBA.
The talented young winger's camp is reportedly using Leon Draisaitl's extension as a comparable in his own contract talks. The Edmonton Oilers forward agreed to an eight-year, $68-million deal last month.
Draisaitl's teammate, Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid, inked an eight-year, $100-million extension in July.
“The league’s trending upwards and the contracts are getting higher and higher," Marchand said. "You look around and some of the deals that were thrown out this summer for young guys. It wasn’t like that three or four years ago and that’s the way it is now. So again, we’re all very happy for one another, and whatever (Pastrnak) gets is going to help other guys get more too. So that’s just the way it is.”
Pastrnak ranked second on the Bruins behind Marchand last season with 34 goals and 70 points in 75 games.
Marchand signed an eight-year deal himself last September, but for a much more team-friendly $49 million. He then went out and had a career season, racking up 39 goals and 85 points, the former of which was exceeded by only three NHL players and the latter of which was surpassed by only four.
Still, the veteran doesn't seem to have any regrets.
“Every situation is different," Marchand said. "I wasn’t negotiating for what (Pastrnak) is negotiating for. It’s completely up to him. Hopefully it gets done. (He's) a great player, he will be for a long time and (he'll be) a big part of this team, (so) obviously we want to see him around. We don’t want to see this hang over his head and over the team’s head, and we’d just love to see him back. I’m sure something will get done soon.”
