It took time — until the dawn of training camp — for Bruins general manager Don Sweeney to crack a deal, but David Pastrnak is here to stay in Boston for a long time. On Sept. 14, the Czech Republic winger inked a six-year contract that will keep him in a Black and Gold sweater through the 2022-23 season.
Boston’s newest multi-millionaire had to have made a big first purchase, right?
"Nothing," Pastrnak said, when asked about how he spent the first small chunk of his new $40 million paycheck. "I got dinner for eight dollars at Sarku Japan. Rice and chicken teriyaki."
After making a quick stop at the Cambridgeside Galleria food court, Pastrnak turned his attention to hockey and the high expectations set on him after breaking out last season. As a third-year NHLer, he trailed only Brad Marchand for the team lead in goals (34) and points (70).
"It’s a big motivation to want to get better every year," Pastrnak said, "and I want to have more success than last year.
"I want to get a lot stronger on the legs, and you want to get faster, you want to get stronger and you want to get a better shot. There are so many things you want to get better at as a player, and you can’t do it all at once."
Sweeney already sees the results of an offseason of work but knows Pastrnak now has to face added pressure after establishing himself as a dynamite top-six forward. The game might not come quite as easily now. Call it a new learning curve of sorts.
"He really went to work on his shot, his overall strength, his ability to get to the areas of the ice, which was challenged in the playoffs," Sweeney said. "We want to see that next progression for him as well, and teams are going to play him differently and harder. He will have to accept that and get past that."
Pastrnak was prepared to hold out of training camp until Sweeney and his agent, J.P. Barry, came to terms. For the 21-year-old, there was a bit of nervousness through the "new experience" of negotiating a contract, especially as the start of the season drew near and his fellow countrymen began to head back to the NHL.
Now, with the numbers to back up his game, Pastrnak is just ready to play.
"He loves hockey. It’s infectious for him to be on the ice and to be an impact player, and obviously he backed it up with the year that he had," Sweeney said.
