The Bruins failed to reach the playoffs, but teammates appreciated the way David Pastrnak stepped up as a leader
Hampus Lindholm was hurt and lost for the season in November. Ditto Charlie McAvoy, who was done in February. Trent Frederic, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, and the captain, Brad Marchand, were dealt away in the days and hours before the March 7 deadline.
When the dust settled, Pastrnak was left standing.
Much the way he's consistently taken his game to new levels throughout his 11-year career, took his leadership to a new level, as well.
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Pastrnak was productive on the ice and a guiding force off it.
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'He has been awesome ... He is really passionate,' said defenseman Nikita Zadorov as the Bruins gathered to clean out their lockers at Warrior Arena on Thursday. 'He cares and that's what you want to see from guys like that. When you go on the ice, when you go to battle with him, he's going to die for you. So, I mean, I knew that. I was close with him. We went for so many dinners; we talked a lot. We had a lot of long talks and everything, but I mean, you guys see it, as well. He's a big part of this team and he is a big part of the future and it's up to us now how to raise this level everywhere and then lead by example.'
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McAvoy, whose season was cut short by a shoulder injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off and a subsequent staph infection that required a hospital stay, marveled at how his fellow alternate captain stepped up.
'I thought David was the best player in the NHL down the stretch and I don't think I'm stepping out of line saying that. He was incredible,' said McAvoy. 'He led by example. He led by being, from what I've gathered, more vocal than he's normally been. He did everything he could have possibly done to help this team, and he did it and it was a joy to watch every night.'
With a roster constantly in flux because of injuries and trades, as well a steady stream of fresh faces making the Providence shuttle, Pastrnak did his best to keep playoff hopes alive. He preached to one and all that playing hard and with pride is nonnegotiable.
The goal of a postseason berth was not achieved, but that shouldn't take away from the efforts of Pastrnak, according to McAvoy.
'I think he's to be commended for the way that he handled himself post-deadline at a time when we all were feeling a certain way like everybody,' said McAvoy. 'Well, he had a hockey game the next day, as well as another 15 or 20 after, whatever it was, and he did exceptional in all of them while being asked to do more than he's had to do. So yeah, I can't say enough good things about what Pasta did for this team down the stretch.'
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Pastrnak said he just did what would be expected of any team leader.
'I'm confident enough, obviously, as one of the leaders, to lead the team. Obviously, we have a lot to do as a corps of leaders,' he said. 'Unfortunately, a couple of them were injured like Hampus, and Charlie was injured for a long time. So, obviously those are two big keys of our [leadership] corps that you kind of missed on and off the ice ... It's been tough ... I tried to do my best.'
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The Bruins likely will name a new captain before the 2025-26 season. Pastrnak proved during a de facto audition for the job that he is worthy. When asked if he'd like to succeed Marchand, Pastrnak gave a captain-like response.
'The leaders I had around me, it was never about who wears the 'C' or who wears the 'A'. Everybody in the room is equal here and we need to make sure that that's one of the things that we have to [find] — a group that is willing to put the work in,' said Pastrnak. 'It's not about one guy, it's going to be multiple of us and we need to be working together, and it doesn't matter who's going to end up wearing any letter, but it starts with a group. Everybody's equal here no matter if you're young, older, and that's what it's always been like, and we have to keep it going.'
Jim McBride can be reached at
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