The Bruins have a short turnaround before ramping up their reps, as Boston will hold a black-and-gold scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence before hosting the Rangers at TD Garden for their preseason opener on Sunday.
David Pastrnak didn’t mince words when it came to setting his goals for an 11th season in a black-and-gold sweater.
The 28-year-old winger has accomplished plenty during his decade in Boston — establishing himself as one of hockey’s most lauded superstars and the conduit of the Bruins’ offensive firepower.
He already has four 40-goal seasons on his resume (including a career-high 61 tallies in 2022-23), and became the first Bruin with back-to-back 100-point campaigns since Hall of Famer Adam Oates racked up triple digits from 1992-94.
But the one thing that has eluded Pastrnak and most of his teammates is hockey’s highest prize — and the honor of being the only roster among 32 teams to win their final game of the year.
He’s come close. Pastrnak and his teammates fell 60 minutes short of a title in 2019 against the Blues — while a record-setting 2022-23 campaign went up in smoke in the first round of the postseason at the hands of the Panthers.
A new year does present a clean slate. And while Jeremy Swayman’s contract status still looms over this roster, Pastrnak believes this team has as good a shot as any to make a run come the spring — especially following some key offseason additions.
“Been here a while, and every year we have a competitive team that is ready to compete and fight for the ultimate goal we’re all trying to reach,” Pastrnak said. “So it’s early, first couple days of training camp.
” But the additions are here, and it’s just up to us now to make sure we can come together tight as a group — try to build something special.”
Once the effective trigger-man on Boston’s overloaded top line featuring Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, Pastrnak has now evolved into his own O-zone juggernaut — capable of elevating just about any personnel around him.:
Even following the departures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci (and with teams making concerted efforts at taking away his blistering one-timer), Pastrnak shifted into more of a playmaking role in 2023-24 with a career-best 63 assists en route to 110 points.
Pastrnak’s supporting cast should be even stronger this fall with Elias Lindholm expected to skate with him and Pavel Zacha.
“He has a little bit of both, Krech and Bergy,” Pastrnak said of of his early scouting reports of Lindholm. “Obviously, he’s a hell of a two-way player, and he has a high hockey IQ. He’s a righty —I played most of my career with the right-hand centermen, so I’m really excited to build chemistry.
“And whether we play together or not, we for sure are gonna have some looks on power play or five-on-five.”
Pastrnak had a taste of a title earlier this offseason, with he and Zacha helping their native Czechia take home the gold medal at the 2024 World Championships — with the title game held in Prague.
Based on Pastrnak’s musings, winning on the international stage is adding even more motivation for a star looking to hoist a Cup at TD Garden in the near future.
“It was obviously a hell of an experience,” Pastrnak said. “Win it at home, in front of the whole country, and the country came together …It was a big win. I needed it. I enjoyed it personally. It was a big gold medal.
“ I had my fun and enjoyment there, but on the other hand, I use it as motivation. It was the first big win of my career. I use it as motivation, flip the page and focus on the next goal.
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