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Bruins Sign David Pastrnak To Six-Year Contract

BOSTON (CBS) -- After a long summer of negotiation, the Boston Bruins have agreed to terms with winger David Pastrnak.

The Bruins locked up Pastrnak for the next six seasons, and at a reasonable price at $6.67 million per year.

"We feel, and have felt all along, that David is a big part of what we're trying to build here. He's a motivated player and made a hell of a jump last year," Bruins GM Don Sweeney said on Thursday.

TSN's Darren Dreger first reported the deal around 10 a.m. on Thursday, and the Bruins made the official announcement 30 minutes later.

The $6.67 million cap hit for Pastrnak will be the fourth-highest on the team, behind David Krejci, Tuukka Rask, and Patrice Bergeron.

"I think the work paid off for both sides to find a good landing spot and I know both sides are extremely happy to have it resolved and to get the full training camp, which I think everyone would acknowledge is in everyone's best interest," said Sweeney.

Pastrnak, 21, scored 34 goals with 36 assists last year, ranking second on the Bruins in both categories behind only Brad Marchand.

Pastrnak entered the summer as a restricted free agent, which essentially eliminated other teams from getting involved in any contract offers. Yet the Bruins and Pastrnak remained far apart on a potential deal all summer long, after Edmonton signed 21-year-old center Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year deal worth $8 million per year. Both sides largely kept their offers and requests private, but it's been believed that Pastrnak has been seeking a deal close to that of Draisaitl.

Bruins training camp is set to open Thursday, with the team's first preseason game scheduled for Monday.

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