Latest news with #Pastrnak
Boston Globe
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Pastrnak, Lauko each score as Czechia shuts out Germany to remain unbeaten at ice hockey worlds
The Czechs complete the group stage against the Americans on Tuesday. Germany and Denmark also meet on Tuesday and will decide the fourth team from the group to reach the quarterfinals. The Czechs' Jakub Flek scored twice and Pastrnak rifled a one-timer from the left circle and set up Lukas Sedlak in the middle period. Lauko added a short-handed goal. Former Bruins prospect Daniel Vladar shut out the Germans with 19 saves. Advertisement In Stockholm, newcomer Slovenia beat France 3-1 to avoid relegation at the expense of the French. Later Monday, Canada plays Finland in Stockholm and Norway meets Hungary in Herning, Denmark.
Boston Globe
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
By missing the playoffs the Bruins got an early summer vacation, but not these seven playing in the World Championship
Coming off an exceptional season (43 goals, 106 points) in which he ascended to Pastrnak has a long history of international play dating to 2012 at the under-17 Worlds. In 70 games representing Czechia (nee: Czech Republic), he has 20 goals and 56 points. Joining Pastrnak on the Czech roster will be fellow winger Jakub Lauko. This is Lauko's first time representing his country at the senior level, though he suited up 29 times (13 goals, 20 points) in junior tournaments. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Pavel Zacha, a member of last year's gold medal team, will not participate this time around as he recovers from a nonsurgical procedure. Advertisement Three Bruins will represent the United States in the nightcap of the doubleheader at Jyske Bank Boxen. Goalie Jeremy Swayman and defensemen Andrew Peeke and Mason Lohrei will face host Denmark in the opener. 'I want to keep my strength and conditioning up,' said Swayman, who was part of the American team at the 4 Nations Face-Off. 'I want to be one of the best athletes in the room, and I want to push my teammates, I want to push myself, and I know that that's going to get us success.' Advertisement Swayman also donned the red, white, and blue at the 2022 Worlds, compiling a 4-3 record as the Americans finished fourth. This will be Peeke's second appearance at the World Championship. He collected six assists in 10 games in 2022. This will be Lohrei's first time playing for Uncle Sam's skaters. Lohrei's workload took a huge jump this season, playing in 77 games and registering five goals and 33 points. With the Bruins' defensive corps pared by injuries and trades, Lohrei stepped up and obviously caught the eye of Team USA's decision makers. His offensive flair is obvious and cutting down on turnovers will be a priority for the pending restricted free agent. 'I want to be a two-way, elite defenseman in this league. And I think just continuing to build and work on that stuff and be more consistent is something that I really want to focus on,' he said. 'So, I mean, going into the summer and stuff, I'm going to work on my explosiveness, feet, stuff like that, shot. But yeah, really, it's just about coming back and being a more consistent player here.' Related : Elias Lindholm will be representing Sweden for the fourth time at the World Championship but first since 2019. In 26 tournament games, he has eight goals, 19 points, and a gold medal from 2017. A summer back injury was part of the reason Advertisement Dans Locmelis will play for Latvia for the third consecutive World Championship. It will be Locmelis's third team this calendar year. After the forward wrapped up his UMass career (47 points in 70 games), he joined the Providence Bruins and had three goals and 12 points in six games. A fourth-round pick in 2022, Locmelis had a pair of goals in 14 previous World Championship games. Jim McBride can be reached at
New York Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What would a dream Bruins offseason look like? David Carle, Matthew Schaefer and Mitch Marner
The Boston Bruins believe 2024-25 was an exception. They consider David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman foundational players. With targeted additions at wing and defense, they believe next year's version of the team will be a playoff contender. 'I think we're back in the mix with the group of guys,' general manager Don Sweeney said, 'if we stay healthy and we do our job this summer.' Advertisement We've already looked at how that can all fail nightmarishly this offseason. Here are nine steps that would get them back on track. The NHL's fifth-worst team has an 8.5 percent chance of picking No. 1. The last time the Bruins did so was in 1997 when they drafted Joe Thornton. By going first in 2025, the Bruins set their sights on Matthew Schaefer, the do-it-all left-shot defenseman. He played only 17 games in 2024-25 because of injuries. But it was enough to give the Bruins a look at a long-term top-pair defender. University of Denver coach David Carle has an impeccable resume. He and the Pioneers won NCAA championships in 2022 and 2024. Zeev Buium, one of his most recent charges, made his NHL debut in the playoffs for the Minnesota Wild. Carle has also struck gold at the World Junior Championship the past two seasons. Carle, 35, is of an age where he can grow with the team. Pastrnak, McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm are three different personalities. McAvoy is the most serious of the trio. Pastrnak and Lindholm have never had a bad day at the rink. For the Bruins to make a turnaround, the three need to make it known they are serious about righting what went wrong in 2024-25. They can set the standard for summer training. McAvoy (shoulder) and Lindholm (knee) need to get their bodies right — and keep in touch with teammates, current and future, to ensure they are on the same page about conditioning. This would set the tone for the three to start 2025-26 as alternate captains. Swayman is sharing the net at the World Championship with Joey Daccord and Hampton Slukynsky. Daccord will most likely start the tournament as Swayman's primary competition. But if Swayman finds a foothold and carries the Americans far, it will be a critical development in his turnaround. Advertisement The tournament is not important just for the Bruins. USA Hockey may see Daccord as a 2026 Olympics candidate over Swayman to join Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger. Swayman wants to do everything possible to go to the Winter Games. The priority is locking up Morgan Geekie, who made a first-line breakthrough with his 33-goal explosion. He is an ideal second-tier fixture as a multi-position forward with a shooter's approach and a willingness to be physical. Geekie's connection with Pastrnak is undeniable. Not only would re-signing Geekie early eliminate the threat of arbitration, but it also would give Sweeney a sharper snapshot of how much dough he'll have to spend in free agency. 'We have an interest in getting in front of that,' Sweeney said. 'Because that sometimes sets up what other things you may or may not want to do. We'd like to sign him to a longer-term deal.' Signing Mitch Marner would give the Bruins the league's best one-two punch at right wing with Pastrnak. The do-it-all Marner also would follow Pastrnak's model in that he does not necessarily require a playmaking center to get him the puck. Marner would become a regular on the penalty kill, even giving the Bruins a possible five-forward power play because of his smarts and coolness up high in the formation. The investment would be worth every cent because of how many areas of the game he touches. Right-shot defenseman Dante Fabbro would fill Brandon Carlo's spot on the No. 2 pair. He is an entirely different defender than the stay-at-homer. But the former Boston University Terrier's puck-moving ability would ease the pressure of opposing forechecks. Ideally, the Bruins can get restricted free agents Johnny Beecher, Marat Khusnutdinov, Mason Lohrei and Jakub Lauko to agree to relatively little dough. By taking the hit for 2025-26, they'd give themselves the opportunities for bounce-back years and re-enter the market next summer. Youngsters Fabian Lysell, Fraser Minten and Matt Poitras need to set themselves up to arrive at training camp as fully formed men. With more strength on the puck and reinforced better for close-quarters battles, the three forwards can put themselves in position to break camp with the varsity. The Bruins would welcome the youth infusion for their energy and skill. The three forwards, who will be on entry-level contracts in 2025-26, would offset the team's high-priced veterans. (Top photo of Mitch Marner: Adam Glanzman / Getty Images)
New York Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Bruins might stand pat at center, even if it's a position of need
Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci have been gone for two years. Charlie Coyle plays for the Colorado Avalanche. Matt Poitras (21 years old) and Fraser Minten (20) are far from assured spots on the 2025-26 Boston Bruins roster. The Bruins need help at center in a big way. But they know firsthand how pricey it is to hire in the middle. On July 1, 2024, they spent $54.25 million to guarantee seven years of service from Elias Lindholm. They did so with the belief that Lindholm would be a No. 1 center at the start of his contract. Advertisement In 2021-22, Lindholm set a career high of 3.01 points per 60 minutes of all-situations play, per Natural Stat Trick. As a first-year Bruin, Lindholm averaged 1.9 per 60. Leon Draisaitl, in comparison, led all regular centers in 2024-25 with 4.16. The trade market is just as expensive. Consider that the Vegas Golden Knights gave up Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-rounder for Jack Eichel. They did so without any certainty that Eichel would be 100 percent following neck surgery. You can see, then, why upgrading the position would be a high-priced project. If Sam Bennett, for example, reaches unrestricted free agency, the Bruins would be competing with multiple bidders for the hard-nosed 28-year-old center. If the New York Rangers put Mika Zibanejad up for sale, the Bruins would have to determine how much in futures they'd be willing to spend for him and whether Zibanejad would waive his no-movement protection, not to mention if the 32-year-old who's gone from 91 to 72 to 62 points the past three seasons is even worth pursuing. The more conservative alternative would be to invest in wings, either in free agency or on the trade market. As much as the Bruins would welcome reinforcements up the middle, they have internal workarounds for the position. Lindholm, to start, can run with David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie on the No. 1 unit, even if he is no longer a first-line, play-driving pivot. Pastrnak can fill the role of playmaker (63 assists) as well as most centers. He is such a threat to score (43 goals) and clever enough with the puck that he can draw defenders his way and dish to open teammates. Geekie (33 goals) was the beneficiary in 2024-25. This could happen again in 2025-26. Lindholm, in other words, does not have to be a typical playmaker if he rides with Pastrnak and Geekie. If he defends, wins faceoffs and goes to the net to open up east-west seams for his wings, Lindholm could be a first-line fixture. 'It gives those guys an opportunity to tilt a little more that way, knowing they still have security defensively,' interim coach Joe Sacco said of how Lindholm could optimize his wings for offense. 'Somebody who's going to play underneath pucks, somebody who's going to be reliable defensively for them. He got more confidence down the stretch there.' Advertisement Offensively, Casey Mittelstadt would be the leading candidate to center the No. 2 line. He is the Bruins' top pure playmaker. He excels at extending puck control until the last moment to give his linemates maximum time to get open. But Mittelstadt's role as a setup presence comes with a cost. The 26-year-old is not hard on pucks. He doesn't win enough battles. His passing touch is muted when he cannot possess the puck. Unless Mittelstadt broadens his shoulders, he may not fit a second-line profile. 'When he gets caught standing still in the offensive zone, making plays not on the move, sometimes things shut down for him,' Sacco said. 'I find him very effective when he's skating, when he's moving his feet and being hard on the puck. We talk about hard skill all the time in this organization. We have a lot of that. That's something he continues to grow into his game.' This leaves Pavel Zacha as a second-line alternative. It's not an ideal solution. Zacha's value is as an all-around center, ideally slotted on the third line. He is not as skilled with the puck as Mittelstadt. But Zacha's hockey sense, skating and strength on the puck make him a better transporter. Like Mittelstadt, Zacha is a pass-first center. He would have to incorporate more of a shooter's selfishness to optimize a second line. So if Zacha locks down the second line and Mittelstadt works the third line, Mark Kastelic would be the most likely candidate to be the No. 4 center. Kastelic projects to be fully recovered from his concussion. The Bruins would not expect much offense from him. The 26-year-old is on the roster to skate, check and provide energy. The Bruins also have Johnny Beecher under team control as a fourth-line option. He will be a restricted free agent this offseason. They need more from Beecher if they qualify the 24-year-old and give him a raise. Advertisement If Poitras and Minten perform well in the AHL playoffs and get stronger in the summer, they could put themselves in position to nudge out an incumbent in camp. By standing pat at center, the Bruins could keep their powder dry for help on the wing. Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers could have their pens ready to sign contracts on July 1. Matthew Knies and Will Cuylle, pending restricted free agents, would be offer-sheet targets if their clubs approach the salary cap. As critical as centers are, the Bruins don't have many paths toward improving the position.
New York Times
21-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bruins 2024-25 season grades: Two first-liners hit the highest mark in disappointing year
The Boston Bruins had the fifth-worst record in the NHL. They were judged appropriately, saved only by a pre-deadline futures grab. Individually, it stands to reason there are poor marks across the board, though there were exceptions among players with 10 or more appearances. David Pastrnak: A+ No. 1 right wing was the league's top scorer since Jan. 1 (69 points in 43 games). Equally dangerous shooting and passing. Favorite to be the next captain if he wants the title. Advertisement Morgan Geekie: A+ Career year for the former Seattle Kraken castoff. Found his home as the No. 1 left wing, creating east-west chemistry with Pastrnak. With arbitration rights, the 26-year-old will cash in this summer. Hampus Lindholm: A- The Bruins' best player at the time he broke his patella after just 17 games. Dearly missed in all situations. Will be part of the 2025-26 leadership group. Mark Kastelic: B Started the season with a bang, earning a three-year extension by being a fourth-line handful. He should be good to go next year after dealing with concussion symptoms. Cole Koepke: B Broke through for his first full NHL season, scoring 10 goals in 73 games. A meat-and-potatoes wing who should get decent traction on the open market. Vinni Lettieri: B Fulfilled his duty as a go-to Providence player and NHL depth forward. Brad Marchand: B Started the year slowly following three offseason procedures. Tried his best to keep the Bruins on the rails. Might regret not accepting whatever the Bruins were offering before the deadline. Patrick Brown: B Did his job as an occasional fourth-liner and Providence captain. Brandon Carlo: B- Stay-at-homer suffered because of the loss of Lindholm, his most regular partner. Will play a big role in the Boston-Toronto rivalry as a consistent defender for the Maple Leafs for the next two seasons. Marat Khusnutdinov: B- Brought some offensive potential to the bottom six with his speed and agility. Does not project to be a top-six forward. Jakub Lauko: B- Played to his identity as a fast and fearless fourth-liner upon his return. Brings value with his sunny personality, regardless of how poorly the team is playing. Charlie McAvoy: B- Franchise defenseman dipped following the departure of Matt Grzelcyk, his longtime partner. Never found consistent traction with Nikita Zadorov or Mason Lohrei. Will be tasked with turning the Bruins around quickly, motivated to return to previous heights following his season-ending shoulder injury and staph infection at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Andrew Peeke: B- Third-pair defender had to take on more shifts following Carlo's trade. At his best when he's playing against third and fourth lines. Parker Wotherspoon: B- Played a career-high 55 games and scored his first career goal. Projects to be a depth defenseman on the open market. Pavel Zacha: B- Versatile forward was not as dangerous offensively (47 points) as he was in 2023-24 (59). Plays well with Pastrnak. Could move to left wing if the Bruins get help at center in the offseason. Should be fully recovered from a knee injury by camp. Advertisement Nikita Zadorov: B- Big man found his level at the end by focusing on positional defensive play. Got in trouble earlier in the year by roaming and being an unpredictable partner. Has to cut down on minor penalties next season. Michael Callahan: C+ Depth defenseman did his best when called upon and put into difficult situations. Group 6 unrestricted free agent could be riding the NHL-AHL shuttle next year. Charlie Coyle: C+ Slow starter had 15 goals, down from a career high of 25 last year, when he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Left a big hole because of how he affected the game at five-on-five, the penalty kill and late-game defensive situations. Henri Jokiharju: C+ Ex-Buffalo Sabre did his job as a five-on-five defender and puck mover. Physicality was not part of his tool kit. Joonas Korpisalo: C+ Was relatively reliable as the No. 2 goalie. Should have gotten more action, but the Bruins tried on multiple occasions to get Jeremy Swayman going with playing time. Was a good teammate despite being mothballed for longer than he would have preferred. Mason Lohrei: C+ Trick-or-treat defenseman: talented offensively, an adventure defensively. Has to tighten up away from the puck if he wants more ice time and a bigger contract. Fabian Lysell: C+ Skilled and speedy right wing was a preseason disappointment and was not a regular impact player in the AHL. Should bring some confidence into camp next year from his 12-game NHL stretch. Justin Brazeau: C Former AHL and ECHL grinder couldn't take the next step as a regular offensive threat. Elias Lindholm: C Victim of bad luck when he hurt his back on Day 1 of training camp. Injury sidetracked him from finding traction on the top line, and he didn't do much offensively on the second line either. Bounced back at the end when given top-line ice time with Geekie and Pastrnak. Trending toward being a full-time No. 3 center in terms of production, but could be a defense-first center if reunited with Geekie and Pastrnak next year. Matt Poitras: C Had another good camp for the second straight year, but was overmatched when the real games started. Brought back from Providence prematurely, which was not his fault. Too hard on himself and quick to suffer dips in confidence when things don't go his way. No guarantee to break camp with the big club next year. Advertisement Marc McLaughlin: C- Depth forward brought energy during recalls, but couldn't translate willingness into production. Ian Mitchell: C- Depth defenseman who skates well and can handle the puck, but couldn't put it all together. Casey Mittelstadt: C- Former No. 8 overall pick was the team's best pure playmaker after arriving in the Coyle trade. Hands and vision were not good enough to overcome the lack of physicality and battle level. Struggled to transition to the Bruins' zone defense. Not maximizing his talent if he doesn't get stronger on the puck. Jordan Oesterle: C- Depth defenseman was claimed on waivers by the Nashville Predators and was not missed after that. Johnny Beecher: D+ Produced early fireworks with Koepke and Kastelic on the fourth line. Faded in a big way in the second half. One of the team's fastest skaters, but hasn't found a way to turn his speed into offense. Trent Frederic: D+ Used to be a valuable third-liner because of his shot and physicality, but was a shadow of himself in all areas. Jeremy Swayman: D Fell far short of expectations after signing his $66 million contract at the end of camp. Was given multiple opportunities to find his game, but never put together consistent starts. Needs to improve significantly for next year, starting with his puck touches. Oliver Wahlstrom: F Waivers claim with a very good NHL shot, scored one goal in 16 games. (Top photo of Elias Lindholm: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
