The Boston Bruins have gotten some bargains over the last few years for star players. The fact that David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand don’t even have an AAV of at least $7 million is crazy. These are top players in the NHL, and yet the Bruins are able to keep them around on extremely team-friendly deals.
However, just because these guys are taking a little off with their cap hits doesn’t mean they’re not still making good money. Let’s take a look at the top-five highest paid Bruins of all time.
5. Brad Marchand
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The pesky winger for the Boston Bruins has turned from a solid player who loved to get under his opponents' skin in, let’s call it untraditional ways, to an elite player who still has that pest in him, but very much toned down.
Marchand has been one of the best right wingers in the NHL for years now, averaging over a point per game every season since the 2016-17 campaign. He hit the 100-point mark in 2019, helping the Bruins to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Marchand also led all skaters in that postseason in points with 23.
Marchand is currently under contract on an eight-year, $49 million deal. His career earnings currently sit at $51,946,464. Not bad for a guy who also just broke Bobby Orr’s franchise record for overtime goals.
4. Tuukka Rask
Boston Bruins
The backstop for the Boston Bruins since Tim Thomas was traded in 2013, Rask has been as good as they come in the NHL. He was a Vezina finalist last season after winning the award in 2014. This year, Rask broke Gerry Cheevers' record for most playoff wins for a goaltender in Bruins history.
Rask has made a total of $63,098,780 as a member of the Boston Bruins. His contract is up at the end of this season, so there is a big decision on the horizon for Don Sweeney. Rask was playing on an eight-year, $56 million contract, and there are some questions about whether the Bruins should sign him if he will be asking more than an AAV of $7 million.
However, if Cam Neely’s hunch is correct, for Rask and No. 3 on this list, he should be back in the crease for the Black and Gold next season, with even more money going the Finn’s way.
3. David Krejci
Krejci has been one of the best second-line centers in the league, and it’s a shame the Bruins’ front office took this long to get him a decent winger.
The center from the Czech Republic was crucial in the 2011 Stanley Cup win for Boston, leading the league in points that postseason. He did the same in 2013, when the Bruins fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Like Rask, he is an impending free agent, and Neely thinks he will stay. If so, his Boston career earnings will go up from his current total of $70,623,171.
2. Zdeno Chara
Nothing might get a Bruins fan in their feels more than seeing Big Z go through the handshake line with his old teammates after the Bruins eliminated the Washington Capitals in the playoffs.
The former captain of the Bruins made a total of $82,500,000 in his 13 seasons in Boston. Chara could have gotten more money, but he was not brought back by the team. During his time in Boston, he brought the team a Stanley Cup Championship, three Stanley Cup Finals appearances and a Norris Trophy.
Chara’s future is unclear, as he hits the free agency market once again. The possibility of retiring has been in the discussion for a couple years now, so the 43-year-old may have played his final game. But we shall see.
1. Patrice Bergeron
The new owner of the “C” with Chara’s departure, Bergeron has been the heart and soul of Boston for 14 seasons.
He’s regarded as one of the premier two-way centers in the league. He has four Selke Trophy wins, tying him with Bob Gainey for the most all-time, and has the record for most consecutive Selke nominations in a row with nine.
Of all the Bruins that have taken team-friendly skills, Bergeron’s might be the best. With his playmaking ability and leadership on and off the ice, he should not have an AAV of $6.88 million. Despite his deal, he still is the highest-paid Bruin of all-time, with a total of $88,409,153.