Still seven months from his 23rd birthday, David Pastrnak has already cemented himself as one of the top snipers in the league, lighting the lamp 69 times over the past two seasons.
It can be difficult to chart Pastrnak’s career trajectory, given how the skilled forward continuously seems to raise expectations with every new NHL campaign.
But when it comes to reaching a new scoring threshold for the explosive winger — say, 50 goals? — the question seems to be not a matter of if, but when.
Pastrnak is already off to a good start in 2018. In his fifth NHL season, he's lit the lamp 10 times in 10 tilts, which sets a solid trajectory when you talk about him becoming the first Bruins skater to tally at least 50 goals since Cam Neely accomplished the feat in 49 games during the 1993-94 season.
“At some point, you know, in my hockey career, I want to become one of those players,” Pastrnak said Friday at Warrior Ice Arena. “It isn’t going to come (without) work. I’m still pretty young. Obviously I would love to have 50 goals in some point in my career. It's just a question of work.”
So far, the work the Czech forward has put into improving his overall game has paid dividends, with Bruce Cassidy noting Pastrnak's improved shot — often his weapon of choice on the power play — has given him an added option in a stacked arsenal of offensive tools.
“He was always dynamic (and) always had the good one-on-one ability to create on his own,” Cassidy said of Pastrnak. “At Providence at 18, he was good at that. Where I think the biggest difference is, I guess, from now to then is his shot. I didn’t see it coming along this well, to be honest with you.”
That blend of speed, skill, strength, and shooting prowess has led to a potent product on the ice, with Pastrnak forming part of arguably the top line in all of hockey alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
Even with all the talent required to tally 50 goals in a season, a number of other factors have to fall in place as well.
Staying healthy is obviously key — with Pastrnak skating in 167 out of a possible 174 games over the past three seasons. But consistency will also be crucial.
Pastrnak led the Black and Gold with 35 goals last season, but went through three stretches in which he went without a goal for at least five games — including a 10-game skid that lasted from December 14 to January 2.
But when you’re on a line with playmakers like Marchand and Bergeron, the chances are going to be there night in and night out.
In 178:54 of TOI so far this season, Pastrnak has been on the ice for 103 scoring chances — including 46 so-called "high-danger" chances — and just 56 scoring chances against. His teammates in Marchand (103 scoring chances for) and Bergeron (97 scoring chances for) are right there with him.
While Bergeron and Marchand have been 30-goal threats for the past couple of seasons, it has been Pastrnak’s progression into an elite winger that has made Boston’s top line into the well-oiled machine it is today, according to former B’s bench boss and current Montreal head coach Claude Julien.
“I still remember Bergeron and Marchand scoring 30 goals and all that stuff and they’re still doing it, so that part is still there,” Julien said Friday. “I think Pastrnak’s growth has brought a lot more to that line and has made a big difference to it, and that’s probably why they’re one of the best lines in the league right now -- the fact that Pasta become the real deal and the player that everyone anticipated him to be.”
For all of the talented players that have suited up for the Black and Gold, only five players have reached 50 or more goals in a single season — Neely, Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyk, Ken Hodge and Rick Middleton.
Based on what we’ve seen so far this year from Pastrnak, it might be time to start making room in the B’s record books.
“That's my strength,” Pastrnak said of finding the back of the net. “That’s the kind of player I am. I’m here to score goals. That’s how I help the team. I want to become one of those players.”
Other Notes:
- Both Zdeno Chara and Chris Wagner did not participate in Boston’s practice on Friday, with Cassidy noting both players were off with maintenance days. Both are expected to be back in the lineup Saturday against Montreal — a good sign for a Bruins club already dealing with a depleted D corps.
- While Friday’s practice was light on contact, Torey Krug was able to test his ankle during a number of drills, skating in place of Chara on the team’s first D pairing with Brandon Carlo. Cassidy noted there’s a chance Krug might be able to return Saturday, although the B’s want to make sure they don’t rush the blueliner back too soon.
- “We didn’t want to spend a lot of time battling,” Cassidy said. “So for him, it wasn’t the best environment today. He did a little bit extra. He’s very close. There’s a chance we could play. We’re going to have that discussion and see how he finished today and if there’s any lingering effects tomorrow morning. … We don’t want to put ourselves in a position where we rush it and it’s another setback. It’s too early in the year and he’s too important of a player.”
- No new updates on Charlie McAvoy and David Backes, per Cassidy. Both players are still sidelined with upper-body injuries and have yet to return to the ice yet.