David Pastrnak is doing more than just leading the Boston Bruins in points this season - he’s putting together the kind of campaign that reminds you why he’s one of the NHL’s most electrifying talents. With 22 goals and 47 assists through 50 games, Pastrnak is once again pacing toward a 100-point season, and he’s doing it with the kind of flair and consistency that makes him impossible to ignore.
His teammates certainly aren’t missing it. Forward Fraser Minten didn’t hold back when asked about Pastrnak’s impact, calling him “elite, elite,” and placing him in the highest echelon of NHL talent.
“There are good players, there are great players and there are exceptional players,” Minten said. “He’s got the ability to change a game at any time with his talent and his playmaking, his creativity.”
That’s not just lip service - the numbers back it up. Pastrnak’s 25-point outburst in January alone (five goals, 20 assists in 14 games) was a masterclass in offensive production. He wasn’t just putting up points - he was driving Boston’s attack every night, making plays that only a handful of players in the league can even attempt, let alone execute.
Bruins head coach Marco Sturm knows he’s watching something special. “There are so many things in his game and between his ears that we can’t really teach,” Sturm said.
“The stuff he does on the ice daily, even how he thinks the game, is different. You can see it in his game.
He’s a very gifted, talented player.”
It’s not just the highlight-reel goals or the slick passes - it’s the way Pastrnak sees the ice, how he anticipates plays before they happen, and how he elevates the players around him. That kind of hockey IQ isn’t taught - it’s instinctual, and Pastrnak has it in spades.
As the Bruins prepare for their outdoor showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday night, it’s clear that Pastrnak will once again be the focal point. Puck drops at 6:30 p.m. ET, and if his recent form is any indication, fans are in for a show.
Right now, Pastrnak isn’t just playing great hockey - he’s playing the kind of hockey that shifts momentum, defines games, and keeps Boston firmly in the contender conversation.