Can Bruins’ David Pastrnak score 60 goals in 2023-24?
The 2022-23 regular season was one for the ages for David Pastrnak. The Boston Bruins’ forward scored a career-high 60 goals and 113 points, helping fuel the team’s historic 65-12-5 record and securing a Presidents’ Trophy.
However, after a shocking first-round exit in the post-season and the retirement of team cornerstones Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, many thought both the Bruins and Pastrnak would take a step back in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division.
To quote Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend!” Going into Thursday night’s game vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins are 8-0-1 with a goal-differential of plus-15. In those nine games, Pastrnak’s scored eight goals, along with six assists for 14 points. They look every bit as good as they did last season. Maybe better.
On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss Pastrnak’s hot start and how the Bruins inserted themselves into the Stanley Cup conversation.
Tyler Yaremchuk: David Pastrnak is having himself quite the start to the season, Frank. You and I were talking last night, asking ourselves “why aren’t we talking about this guy a bit more?” We know he’s one of the most feared goal scorers in the league. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, only Connor McDavid and Leon Drasaitl have more goals than Pastrnak.
Of course, with all the changes that happened in Boston in the offseason, some people like myself wondered if Pastrnak would be able to keep up that 55-, 60-goal pace? He can, we’ve got our answer already.
Frank Seravalli: This is a guy who, think back to the pandemic season when things were paused, was a co-winner of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. This is an incredibly talented and consistent player, and for the life of me, why hasn’t he gotten more love?
Eight goals in nine games to start, and all these questions about Bergeron and Krejci, without them would these guys be able to do it? You’ve got the guy who’s the engine but doing it from the wing. Why can’t the Bruins be included in that conversation of Stanley Cup contenders?
You can watch the full episode here…