Pastrnak named Bruins captain, first since Marchand

BOSTON -- David Pastrnak didn't have much when he arrived at Boston Bruins development camp in 2014, having left his stick, pads and gloves back in Sweden where he was playing, bringing only his skates, but the No. 25 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft wowed from the start.

Twelve years and 933 points (420 goals, 513 assists) since he first took the ice, Pastrnak has been named Bruins captain, a role that was vacant since Brad Marchand was traded to the Florida Panthers on March 7, 2025.

“I’ve been grateful my whole career to be learning from some unbelievable leaders and amazing hockey players and human beings,” Pastrnak said after practice Sunday. “I couldn’t be more prepared for this and I’m really excited for the responsibility, challenge. I’m ready for it.”

Pastrnak joins a distinguished group of former Bruins captains, including 16 Hockey Hall of Famers and nine players whose numbers have been retired by the organization. Patrice Bergeron will become the 10th former captain in Boston to receive the honor when his No. 37 is retired in December.

Pastrnak will make his debut with the “C” on his jersey Tuesday, when the Bruins play their season opener against the New York Rangers at TD Garden (8 p.m. ET; ESPN).

The 30-year-old forward was among three alternates last season, with Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm, and has played his entire 12-season NHL career for the Bruins. He is sixth in franchise history in points, fifth in goals (420), and ninth in assists (513). His 13 overtime goals are second, and his 68 game-winning goals are fifth. He also has 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists) in 96 Stanley Cup Playoff games, helping Boston reach the postseason in nine of those 12 seasons.

Over the course of his career, Pastrnak has played under Zdeno Chara, Bergeron and Marchand as captains. Referring to Chara and Bergeron, Pastrnak called them “superheroes.” He noted, in particular, Bergeron’s sense for the players in the room, for when they needed something, when he could be there for them.

Asked what he took from those former captains, Pastrnak said, “Everybody is different and everybody has to find their own way of leading. You can’t try to be someone else. It doesn’t work.”

Bruins coach Marco Sturm concurred. 

“He’s definitely not a Chara and not a Bergeron as a leader, but that’s OK,” said Sturm, who played with each in Boston. “I said that in the past. He’s a different kind of leader, very, very positive, always with a smile, always has an ear open for everyone.”

Pastrnak made it clear that little will be different from last season, with the expectation that the captaincy will remain a group endeavor, as it has always been. He noted that he and McAvoy have “a great friendship,” and that there is no competition between the two. 

“For us, nothing is changing here,” Pastrnak said. “We’ve been as a group of leaders here always when I’ve been here and the guys before me, they always had it as a group leadership. It’s not goinh to change, even if I’m captain. The reason I’m sitting [here] anyway is because of those guys, so we’re going to work as a team. 

“We continue to do that and make sure that everybody feels comfortable and welcome. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or a 10-year veteran. You are always welcome here and you have a voice in this room, no matter if you have a letter on or not.”

Pastrnak is in the fourth season of an eight-year, $90 million contract ($11.25 million average annual value) he signed on March 2, 2023. He has at least 100 points in each of the past four seasons while leading Boston in scoring in each, including 100 (29 goals, 71 assists) last season. 

The forward said he found out that he was being named captain a day or two ago, in a meeting with general manager Don Sweeney and team president Cam Neely. 

It was so recent that Pastrnak had not yet had a chance to tell his mother, with whom he is very close. 

“She don’t know,” he quipped. “You guys put me in a really bad spot. She’s going to yell at me. I’m excited for the call. I’ll be obviously proud, and me and my family overall are super grateful to the Boston organization and the Boston fans. 

“I’m raising my whole family here with my wife, so we couldn’t be more proud to represent the Bruins organization and we will take big pride in it and recognizing (it’s) a big responsibility.”

Pastrnak harkened back to that first practice as a member of the Bruins all those years ago, considering if he could have imagined this moment. It was never something he dreamed about, nor considered, but he believes he’s ready to handle it, with all the pressure that entails.  

“Big thanks goes to all my teammates that I had throughout my career and mentors and was able to learn every day,” he said. “It shows how awesome the Bruins organization is because you have this type of human beings and hockey players to learn from.

“That’s why I don’t worry about the young guys because I know they are in great hands and we will continue to help them grow because that’s what we’ve been helped when we got as young guys into the League. So it’s important to make them feel comfortable and show them the way. As long as I’m here, they will see the way and I will continue what the guys before me built.”

Four NHL teams remain without a captain: the Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks.