Certainly a possibility. I think Beleskey will start lower in the lineup though. He needs to work himself back.

True, but that's why I put him there, to give him the best chance. He and Vatrano are interchangeable to start the year. If you put Bels on 4th line, you're not giving him a fair chance to get his game back.

So really only 2 options 2nd or 3rd line LW. I also like him with DK and Pasta because he can be insurance for Pasta, anybody gets unruly with Pasta, he is there to "answer the bell".

Camp will determine a lot!

In a world where cap is higher than it used to, you need to give the kid 7 million at least. You don't just score 34 goals and not get paid less than 7 million. Draisaitl makes 8.5 million and scored 77 points. Same age, similar players. If anything Pastranak is better just because he is a natural scorer opposed to Leon playing with mcdavid.

According to LWL, Leon and McDavid played together less than 2% of the time at 5v5. The most common line-mates for Leon were Lucic & Slepyshev. Even still, Leon is a center and they hold more value (as they have more responsibility) then a winger. I do agree though that Pasta should get at least $7 million per year. He shouldn't make more than Leon though

Leon and Pasta are not similar in the least. Leon is a much more heavy physical player, a little less of a natural goal scorer, also he doest play with McDavid much at all. People don't take into consideration that Chiarellli overpaid the player. Just because Draisaitl got over paid doesn't mean Pasta needs to. Pasta needs to prove he can score consistently. Not going to lie, I'd rather have Draisaitl than Pasta.

It took Marchand til age 28 to get that salary boost. Chia just did typical chia stuff by paying out the butt for Leon. He's screwing that team like he did with the Bruins. They're gonna be in big trouble in a couple years cap wise. But I see where the Bruins are coming from standing strong on their offer. And I see why pastas camp wants more. In the end the kid will hopefully take a hometown discount because I've read and heard that he loves it here and wants to stay.

Oh God another one. Draisaitl is OVERPAID and Bruins are doing the right thing by holding out and making JP Barry sweat!! Draisaitl is NOT worth 8.5 and Pasta is NOT worth north of $7 for 8 years!!!

I hope he does come to his senses that way.....

I'd say Pasta at max is worth $7.5 per. I'd be happier around $7, but he's worth more than $6 million a year. At $7.5 million he could be a steal in 2 years if he continues to progress like he has been. In a given year only 2%-4% of players to step on the ice will net 30+ goals. At 20yr old Pasta already did that and he could be a consistent 40 goal scorer and that is worth well north of $7.5 million.

Only thing is, he's only done it once. I would like to see a repeat of that production first before signing him to that kind of money. Maybe a bridge is the answer? 3 years at $6.5 and then pay him huge based on his production to that point!

Ya I'm sure every GM would like to see consistent production before locking up young guys, but that isn't how you get great value 2 years down the road. If you get Pasta on a bridge deal and he continues to be a 30+ goal / 70pt+ player, you'll be paying a lot more in 3 years. Not only will other contracts be on the market for comps but the cap (in theory) should increase as well. Lets not get to crazy though and say he continues to be the player he is, you could easily be looking at $9+ a year.

It would be more expensive for the Bruins (unless Pasta falls off the earth) to do a bridge deal. Just using the numbers roughly discussed above...

Bridge Deal = 3x6.5 then 8x9
Pay Now = 8x7

So we're gaining 500k for the first 3 years, but losing $2 million the remaining 4 years. To be saving $1.5 million doesn't seem worth it when it cost me $8 million down the road.

Ya but we can shed a lot of salaries in those 3 years so then you can afford to pay him more as long as he is still producing at that level and higher!!

My point is though it would ultimately cost you more money in the long run. If the team is that concerned that he can't sustain his performance/growth then they should just trade him.

I think they expect the growth, or at the very least sustain it, it's more of the factor of "keeping up with the Jonse's" when someone gets overpaid (draisaitl). You can't just give up and say "oh well". Someone in the league needs to put feet in the sand and resist, it just helps with other GM's to do the same. I think the Bruins know they need to give him $7M AAV but make him sweat a bit and maybe he convinces JP Barry to sign for long term at $7M because he just wants to play!! Just my thoughts....and my hope