David Pastrnak arrived at Bruins development camp in 2014 with little more than his skates after leaving his stick, gloves and pads in Sweden. He made an immediate impression anyway. Twelve years later, Boston has handed him the “C.”
The Bruins have named Pastrnak the 28th captain in franchise history. The Czech winger takes over after Brad Marchand’s departure, giving Boston’s longest-tenured star the formal leadership role.
Quick facts
- Pastrnak was selected 25th overall by Boston in the 2014 NHL Draft.
- He has recorded 933 NHL points for the Bruins: 420 goals and 513 assists.
- Brad Marchand had been captain since Sept. 20, 2023.
- The captaincy became vacant when Marchand was dealt to the Florida Panthers on March 7, ahead of the trade deadline.
- Pastrnak is the 28th player to wear the “C” for Boston.
Pastrnak steps into a role with deep weight in Boston. The club’s captaincy list includes 16 Hockey Hall of Famers, while nine former Bruins captains have had their jersey numbers retired.
Patrice Bergeron will soon join that latter group. His No. 37 is scheduled to be raised to the rafters in December, making him the 10th former Boston captain to receive the honor.
For Pastrnak, the appointment completes a long climb from that first development camp visit. He arrived without most of his equipment, but quickly showed the skill that made him Boston’s first-round pick. Now he becomes the face and captain of the next Bruins chapter.
