While Pasta is an "ELITE" scorer, which your stats highlight, he is "NOT" a complete player. Not yet.
He still makes a lot of mental errors, forcing plays that are not there. Marchand has a bit of the same issue.
He is worth big money, but not setting the new top of market money. That's why I say 8x11mil.
Either way his next contract will screw the B's without an effective pipeline of young forwards, on the cheap.
He's not McKinnon, or McDavid. They play chess while others play checkers. Teams have already figured out how to defend him on the powerplay. (Much like defending Stamkos or Ovechkin, takeaway the one-timer from the top of the circle)
I love Pasta, but not at > 11mil. The Cap will go up in 2-3 years. Are you accepting being a defendable offense with great defense till then. Without Bergs or Krech, lets see what Pasta's stat line looks like. It's not going to be like it is now. As a single threat, he will be defendable and will wear down trying not to be. 11 million is a lot of money, would you turn it down if that's the best offer, or go to a team with a younger foundation. B's got to pay him, but he has all the juice here.
Krazee thought, but if Bergs and Krecji don't come back, and Pasta won't sign. Do you trade him and a 1st for Connor Bedard and start over? Just causing trouble, hope it doesn't come to that!
This is not a reaction to a trap game, we lost. I expected them to lose their intensity. It was impossible to maintain the pace they were on and the 2nd half schedule it certainly against them cruising to a historical record.