Sweeney: Pastrnak Negotiations "Ongoing"

BOSTON - Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Thursday morning that contract talks with restricted free agent David Pastrnak are ongoing, but there is "no timetable" for a resolution.
"Status quo there," said Sweeney, who was speaking at Warrior Ice Arena ahead of the team's Rookie Camp. "[Pastrnak's agent] J.P. [Barry] and I continue to talk and will continue to talk and find a deal at some point in time. But there's no timetable on it and nothing really to expand on other than the nature of the talks have been ongoing."

Sweeney remains of the belief that the organization and Pastrnak's camp, ultimately, want the same thing - and that is for the winger to stay in Boston for years to come.
"There's never really been any deviance from that standpoint - from the organization or from the player - to find a deal that works," said Sweeney.
Ideally, Sweeney said, both sides would like for Pastrnak to take part in training camp, which begins on Sept. 14.
"I was on record a while ago, and I think I read even a general manager yesterday talking about [it]… nobody really hides from the fact that I don't think it's productive on either side [to miss camp]," said Sweeney.
"So in a perfect world, yes, the answer would be yes on all fronts."

Valuable Veterans

Sweeney complimented the play of veteran blueliners Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller during the 2016-17 season, in particular their ability to adapt to the changing style of the National Hockey League.
"He's not an easy player to play against," Sweeney said of McQuaid. "He continues to work on the parts of his game - the game's gotten faster and he's adapted very well to it. His aggressiveness and being able to defend the blue line and entries last year is a testament to him continued to adapt."
"Kevan Miller's another good example of a similar ilk of player, but they continue to evolve…and they haven't sort of rested on what they were in the league, especially as the league around them changes," added Sweeney. "It's a testament to them as individual players."
Miller, who was one of the B's most valued defensemen during the second half of last season, has continued to amp up his training as he seeks to improve all facets of his game.
"He's hired people in the summer time to continue to work on his game. He wants to continue to get better as a player and he believes he can," said Sweeney. "He's in absolute peak physical condition. You're not going to find a guy that works any harder on that in every facet of his game, so he's not leaving stones unturned to continue to become a better player.
"Again, a testament to his character. Again, the intangibles, the intestinal fortitude probably got him the opportunity to begin with, but now he's made himself into a valuable player in the National Hockey League."

Vladar Suffers Injury

Goaltending prospect Daniel Vladar will not participate in Rookie Camp after suffering a wrist injury during offseason training. The 20-year-old netminder was 4-0-1 with a 2.62 goals against average in eight games with Providence last season after being promoted from Atlanta of the ECHL.
"Daniel Vladar actually had an offseason training mishap and he is having a pin removed [Friday] and flying back on [Sept. 11]," said Sweeney. "He'll be in house and should at some point in time be able to integrate training camp-wise."

Lauzon Cleared

Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon underwent offseason hernia surgery, but is recovering well and is scheduled to participate in this weekend's Prospects Challenge in Buffalo.
"He's on the same path as [Patrice] Bergeron and similar surgery - [he] was a couple weeks [later] from when Bergy had it - but he's fine," said Sweeney. "He'll be playing in these games and we'll just monitor whether or not he has any residual soreness as he goes back into game speed but he's up and ready to go."
Boston Bruins Rookie Camp is presented by AT&T.