Dec 2, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman
Drew Doughty(8) checks Boston Bruins left wing
David Pastrnak(88) into the boards during first period action at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
“He’ll only get better. We need to continue to give him that opportunity to grow in the right environment.” Claude Julien on David Pastrnak
David Pastrnak got his first official call up to the Boston Bruins on November 24, just before the team was set to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. His highly anticipated debut brought exactly what fans and coaching staff hoped for, quick, skilled plays and lots of shots on net. While he was only on the ice for 7:53, he made some memorable plays, one being a nice deke in the first period that allowed him to utilize his speed through the neutral zone to get a scoring opportunity. Then towards the end of the game he gave a backhand pass to Marchand who was in the slot for one of the best scoring chances of the game and the best opportunity for a go-ahead goal.
The glimpses shown in the short amount of time were enough to instill confidence that he could handle himself, at least for a little while, allowing the coaching staff to make the decision to keep Pastrnak in the line up and sit out Matt Fraser.
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“We know he’s a good player and he showed that the other night. Offensively, he’s a real good player, he’s explosive, he makes plays, he’s pretty dynamic. He’ll only get better. We need to continue to give him that opportunity to grow in the right environment.” Claude Julien said.
Being paired with Bergeron is a move all too common with the Bruins when they are trying to ‘mold’ young talent into the kind of player they would like them to be. For instance, Marchand’s career took off after he was paired with the centerman, as well as Dallas sensation Tyler Seguin when he was just breaking into the NHL. Bergeron has the ability to lead on and off the ice and provide the perfect example of how to play Bruins hockey the right way. He’s as good as they come.
“Bergy’s pretty reliable,” Claude Julien stated, “…to his credit, you put a guy like (Pastrnak) on his line, you know there’s going to be a reliable guy (in Bergeron) that’s going to help him grow as well. He was that age, too, when he started in Boston and he had someone help him along the way, so he’s certainly capable of doing that now.”
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Pastrnak has now suited up for four games and continues to improve, adding something the Bruins desperately need right now. SHOTS ON NET. It really is that simple. The Bruins have a number of players that know how to get the puck cleanly through the neutral zone and can generate plays like there is no tomorrow. However, as of late, they lack someone who can consistently and constantly shoot the puck. They have found that in Pastrnak. Through the four games he has placed 15 shots on net, three of them missing. While he hasn’t produced any goals from them, he’s a shoot-first winger, much like Seguin was.
For those of you that tuned into last night’s game against the Kings, you heard Andy Brickley and Jack Edwards talk about the way Pastrnak holds his stick, in a way that he’s always a mere flick of the wrists away from a shot.This mentality makes him dangerous to other teams, because he has the confidence to say screw it and take a shot where as players like Eriksson and Soderberg are more apt to pass the puck and make a play before taking an actual shot.
Pastrnak could be the answer to the Bruins prayers if they decide he should stay once it comes decision making time (which is 5 games from now). As Dan Ryan pointed out from Stanley Cup of Chowder, the Bruins wanted to find someone to complete the Lucic-Krejci line and have been since Nathan Horton left, despite some brief stints with Jagr and Iginla. Pastrnak could be that fit.
A guy like Lucic opens up space for a playmaker like Soderberg. If he can get the puck to Pastrnak, shots will follow. Lucic will be free to roam the slot, picking up any rebounds and shoveling them on goal. Easy.
While it seems so cut and dry, that usually means the Bruins will do just the opposite. However, Pastrnak has lived up to the hype and proved he’s a skilled player who loves to shoot. Why not let him?