Boston’s Pastrnak on the Trade Block? Vancouver Canucks Opportunity?

Should Vancouver Canucks fans have any interest in the wild trade rumours coming out of Boston regarding winger David Pastrnak? In a perfect world, yes. In a salary cap world with a limited no-movement clause in his case, probably not. But for a right-shot winger who’s just 26-years-old — Brock Boeser is 25 by comparison — a guy like Pastrnak would be intriguing for any club.

To continue that comparison, “Pasta” from the Czech Republic has 181 goals over the last five seasons while Boeser from Minnesota has 117.

Both have played exclusively in the top-6, Pastrnak consistently with a stalwart pair beside him in Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. That makes a huge difference, and to be fair in contrast to the Vancouver Canucks, the recent Bruins clubs have been much deeper and in 2019 were Stanley Cup Finalists.

Pastrnak has a year remaining on his six-year deal that pays him the devilish amount of $6.666-million per season, and according to reports his relationship with Bruins GM Don Sweeney has soured. Pasta’s agent J.P. Barry at CAA denies it. Ultimately there is no rush to sign a new deal unless of course the player is indeed looking for a way out. Decisions would then need to be made.

Without the potential sour element, there are similarities to center JT Miller’s situation with the Canucks, in that both players, particularly Miller, are looking at hefty pay raises.

It’s possible that in both of these cases a certain level of urgency is media manufactured, but with Pastrnak’s situation there are indeed a couple of twists.

Toss in the fact that the Boston Bruins just canned their head coach Bruce Cassidy and one finds himself with a little bit of turmoil.

Long time linemate and captain Bergeron, who just won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward for a record fifth time, is contemplating retirement this off-season. He turns age 37, which happens to be his jersey number, next month. Maybe it’s fitting he hangs it up.

If he does, it would be another blow for a squad that appears to be headed in the wrong direction. Forward Jake DeBrusk had requested a trade out of town early last season not long after 2nd-line center David Krejci, Pastrnak’s countryman, retired.

The Vancouver Canucks, to circle back to parallels, seem optimistic by comparison, but it would be overly optimistic to think this upgrade on the right wing would be available and Pastrnak would end up in British Columbia.