Peter Chiarelli: Bruins To Keep Rookie David Pastrnak At NHL Level

BOSTON – The Bruins have decided to burn the first year of rookie forward David Pastrnak’s entry-level contract and keep him with the NHL club.

B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli announced the team’s decision during the first intermission of Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers at TD Garden.

“He’s going to be up here and we’re happy to make that decision, and we’re going to continue to look at it as a development piece, which means that, as we’ve done before with some of the younger players, it doesn’t mean you’re in the lineup all the time,” Chiarelli said.

“There may be points in time when his play dips a little bit and we may sit him down for a game or two here or there, but I think the important thing to take away from this is that he’s going to be up with the (NHL team), practice with the team, and hopefully play on a regular basis.”

The 18-year-old forward was able to play in nine games before the team had to decide whether to begin his 2014-15 contract or send him back to the Providence Bruins (AHL). His ninth game is Thursday night.

Pastrnak, who was selected 25th overall by Boston in the 2014 NHL draft, has scored four goals with one assist in eight games at the NHL level. He scored twice Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers and netted two more tallies Tuesday versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. His high-end offensive skill, elite speed and high hockey IQ will help bolster a Bruins offense that is struggling to score at last season’s rate.

The Bruins have played Pastrnak at first-line right wing alongside David Krejci and Milan Lucic for the majority of his even-strength shifts over the last two games. Boston has needed a first-line right winger since 30-goal scorer Jarome Iginla left the B’s as a free agent over the summer, and it appears Pastrnak will fill that void for the time being.

Pastrnak is one of four 2014 draft picks to play in the NHL this season, along with Florida’s Aaron Ekblad, Buffalo’s Sam Reinhart and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl. In the last two drafts, Pastrnak is the only player selected between picks 20 and 30 in the first round to make his NHL debut that same year.