David Pastrnak didn’t lose his scoring touch last season. He just changed the way he did damage.
The Bruins winger put up his fourth straight 100-point season, but the shape of it looked different from the explosive version fans saw in 2022-23. Pastrnak finished with a career-high 71 assists and 29 goals, his lowest total since 2015-16, not counting the Covid-shortened 2020-21 season. He also fired 261 shots, his fewest since that same shortened year, a far cry from the 407 shots and 61 goals he piled up two seasons ago.
Back then, he was riding alongside Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron on one of the league’s top lines. Now, the setup is different, and so is Pastrnak’s role.
He’s been central to Morgan Geekie’s rise as a goal scorer, and he could keep working that chemistry with Geekie and Elias Lindholm, who skated with him Thursday. Another possibility is helping newcomer J.J.
Peterka settle in and produce.
Bruins coach Marco Sturm isn’t losing sleep over the dip in Pastrnak’s goal total, so long as the puck is going in.
“We still finished up with a lot of goals,” said Sturm. “He can do it all.
But I’m not at that point where I say he’s going to drive me crazy because he’s not shooting enough. I’m not there at that point yet.
Even last year I was never there. There were a few times, of course, where I was like maybe he could shoot the puck more.
But then all of a sudden, he makes an unbelievable play and his linemate scored. So you’ve got to be really careful with him because he’s such a good player and he’s so smart.
He creates so much because he’s that good. And I don’t want to be in his ear all the time.
I always have to make sure I catch him at the right time. But as long as he’s producing, I’m good either way.”
That’s the balance with Pastrnak: shoot when it’s there, pass when it’s better.
“I would love to score goals again, obviously. But you guys know how I feel about playmaking.
I love it,” said Pastrnak. “I will always pass if I see a guy in better position to score than me.
Of course everybody wants to score goals. That’s the beauty part about it.
But at the same time … I’d love to do both.”
Who he’s skating with will matter once the season begins Sept. 29. Pastrnak said the early work with Peterka has been limited, and he’s still figuring out what that combination might become.
“Obviously with J.J., it’s been very short and we only had a couple of skates together. We don’t know each other that well yet on the ice.
I can’t wait to see where the chemistry or see where we go together and what to expect,” said Pastrnak. “But with Geeks, I think it’s pretty simple.
I’m the playmaker because of (his) shot. The release that he has is outstanding.
I keep reminding him every day that when we play together, I’m the playmaker and he’s going to score the goals.”
Now 30, Pastrnak is also speaking like a player who knows the window isn’t forever. He was one win away from a Stanley Cup in 2019, and the Bruins haven’t gotten nearly that close since. He said that reality is on his mind.
“I’m very hungry to get back and to get another bite at it. It’s been awhile. Obviously, I’d be lying if it wasn’t in the back of my head,” said Pastrnak.
And with GM Don Sweeney saying the club will name a captain before the season, Pastrnak is the obvious name most people have in mind. He’s not rushing that conversation.
“Listen, it’s out of my reach,” said Pastrnak. “We’re focusing on getting ready for the season as a team.
When we hear something, you guys will also hear it from us. But as of now, it’s not our job to do.
I’m here to do my job, whatever it is.”
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