Odds That Pending 2023 UFAs Get a Contract Extension

With the 2023 Trade Deadline quickly approaching and the halfway mark firmly in the rearview mirror, it’s as good of a time as ever to start pondering the chances of the Boston Bruins’ upcoming unrestricted free agents (UFAs) returning to the team for the 2023-24 season. Given how well the team is playing this season and the Bruins bumping right up against the salary cap, it is likely that several players will play themselves out of the team’s price range, especially with the latest news being that it may only rise by $1 million going into next season.

Related: Bruins Make Right Decision With Zacha Extension

The most important UFA this upcoming offseason is obviously David Pastrnak. Reports are seemingly coming out weekly about how the talks are going between the Bruins and his agent, and what the potential contract could be worth. But he is not the only UFA the team will have to make a decision on this summer.

David Pastrnak – 88%

Management is going to do everything in its power to sign Pastrnak to another long-term deal, as they should. If the team wishes to remain competitive for years to come, then they need to re-sign him. He has somehow managed to elevate his already-elite play this season, continuing to earn himself a larger and larger contract. At this point, an eight-year extension worth $88 million with an average annual value (AAV) of $11 million, which has been circulating as the rumored number, is more than fair. 

So far this season, Pastrnak has 71 points in 49 games, including 38 goals. He’s a plus-28 and has a shooting percentage of 15.9%, which is well above his career average of 4.3%. For his career, he has 574 points in only 558 games, meaning he’s averaging above a point a game. Not many people in the history of the NHL have done that. 

Pastrnak will be worth every penny of whatever contract he signs. All signs are pointing towards him re-signing in Boston. He seems happy with the team and his current linemate, Pavel Zacha, was just re-signed to a four-year extension. There is never a 100 percent probability when it comes to predicting the possibility of a player signing an extension, but at least at the moment, things are looking positive.

Patrice Bergeron – 50%

Patrice Bergeron’s future in Boston and the NHL is completely up to him. After signing a one-year deal this past offseason, he made it very clear that he only wants to play in…