The Boston Bruins have successfully survived the absence of David Pastrnak. The Bruins star winger has missed 16 games because of a broken thumb. The Bruins went on a seven-game point streak when Pastrnak went down with an injury. Without him, they were able to extend that point-streak to 19 games, which is the second best in Bruins franchise history.
There were rumblings around the Bruins fan base that the team is actually better without David Pastrnak, even though statistically speaking, this fact had no sense. And it still makes zero sense. If the Bruins are better without David Pastrnak, they are even better with him in the lineup.
Since his return, David Pastrnak has played in five games for Boston. In his very first game last week on Long Island against the Islanders, he was definitely rusty and finished the game without a point. In his next game, he was back on the score sheet with a goal and an assist against New Jersey. On Saturday in Florida, he had another goal and an assist. After that game in Florida, Pastrnak said that he was feeling way worse than in his first game back after the return.
Playing with a lot of rust and still not feeling at 100%, Pastrnak had four points in three contests. Later on, he recorded two assists in an important game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. On Wednesday night, when the Bruins took on the New York Rangers, he had five-point night featuring the third hattrick of the season for him.
It really made no sense to think that the Bruins are better without Pastrnak than with him. They are simply a very good team even without David Pastrnak. With him in the lineup, the Bruins get themselves a 105-point producer. Pastrnak, just 22-year-old, is on the pace for 105 points. And that´s a pretty solid number.
His previous career-best was 80 points from the past season. Now he is on 77 points and already set his new career-high in goals with 36. Compared to the last season, Pastrnak has played 21 games less than during the present campaign. With five games still to go in the regular season, Pastrnak is poised to set his new career-high in points. Missing 16 games with a broken thumb doesn’t matter at this point.
It´s ridiculous how good David Pastrnak has been for the Bruins (Czech winger has 280 points in 315 NHL games, then 24 points in 18 playoff games) and that he is signed to the contract worth $6.66 million per campaign for four more seasons.
The players who got over 100 point-mark this season: Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane, and Leon Draisaitl. Brad Marchand is just three points away from 100 points. David Pastrnak is on the pace for 105 points. Neither of these guys excluding those ones in the Bruins uniform is signed for such a bargain deal worth $6.66 million per season.
Where is the ceiling for David Pastrnak? After his strong return, it´s pretty much clear: nobody knows. But there should be one thing certain: he will continue to rock up many points. He had 20 points in the playoffs last season in just 12 games. Pastrnak is still only 22-year-old and if he manages to stay healthy and focused on hockey during his whole playing career, he has a bright future in front of him. Well, as if the present wasn’t that good enough already…