Two years back, David Pastrnak had a standout season alongside his Boston Bruins teammates. In the 2022-23 season, the Black and Gold made history by setting the NHL record for the most wins and points in a regular season, with Pastrnak netting an impressive career-high of 61 goals. It was only a matter of time before this superstar right winger hit the 60-goal mark.
However, last season saw a decline in his scoring, as he managed 47 goals over 82 games. This dip came as he played without the legendary Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the two top centers who had been pivotal during his tenure with the Bruins. With both players retiring last summer, Boston turned to Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha as their primary centres. While both are solid players, they lack the elite playmaking abilities that Bergeron and Krejci brought to the ice. This summer, on the opening day of free agency, GM Don Sweeney made a significant move by acquiring top centre Elias Lindholm, a player expected to boost Pastrnak’s scoring.
Pastrnak Aims to make History in 2024-25
Pastrnak is fortunate to have Elias Lindholm, who joined the team back in early July, as his new centre. Lindholm is a player known for prioritizing passing. Over his 11-year career, the 29-year-old Swedish forward has amassed 339 assists in 818 games. His standout seasons were with the Flames, where he notched 40 and 42 assists in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, respectively.
Lindholm boasts a career assists-per-game average of 0.41. This surpasses Coyle’s 0.32 and Zacha’s 0.33. This indicates that Pastrnak will have a teammate who consistently looks to set him up for scoring opportunities. In fact, Lindholm’s assist production is comparable to that of Bergeron. He concluded his illustrious career with a 0.47 rate.
In addition to his offensive contributions, Lindholm was acquired as the team’s leading face-off specialist. During the2023-24 season, he finished with a 56.4 success rate. This marks the fourth consecutive year he has won more than half of his face-offs. Winning these draws is crucial for the Bruins, as it allows them to maintain puck possession and orchestrate plays. This is key during power plays, where Pastrnak often positions himself in the far circle for his signature one-timers.
Pastrnak Could reach Major Milestone
Pastrnak stands a solid chance of hitting the 400-goal mark in the 2024-25 season, provided he develops a strong connection with Lindholm and that Marchand, his long-time partner, continues to perform at a level that ranks him among the franchise’s top statistical players. As always, the season will have its ups and downs, which means Pastrnak will likely share the ice with Coyle and Zacha, depending on who’s in form.
If the 28-year-old manages to score his 400th goal during the 2024-25 season, he will be one step closer to breaking Bucyk’s long-standing club record of 545 goals, set in 1978. In the entire 101-year history of the Bruins, no player has ever reached the 500-goal milestone, which means that at his current scoring rate, Pastrnak could achieve this feat in just over three seasons. With seven years remaining on his contract and an average of 0.51 goals per game, he could be less than five years away from surpassing 555 goals, making him Boston’s all-time leading scorer.
In terms of his legacy with the Bruins, Pastrnak could become the second-fastest player to reach 400 goals, trailing only Phil Esposito (who did it in 542 games) and outpacing other legends like Middleton (861), Marchand (1,026), Bucyk (1,062), and Bergeron (1,216).
The Dynamic Pair of Pastrnak and Marchand
The 2024-25 season is poised to be a remarkable one for the Bruins. Alongside Pastrnak’s quest for 400 goals, captain Marchand is closing in on 1,000 career points. Their careers have been intertwined for many years. Imagine if they both achieved their milestones, led the Bruins to the Finals, and captured a championship together! Time will certainly tell as we get closer to the start of the season.
Main Photo: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
