Pastrnak tied Hart finalist Leon Draisaitl for third in points
Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck and Nikita Kucherov were named finalists for the Hart Trophy, the NHL announced Thursday.
Given how miserable the Boston Bruins’ 2024-25 campaign was, it’s not hard to see how David Pastrnak could be overlooked. However, you can’t ignore the fact that Pastrnak played arguably the best hockey of his career this season.
After becoming just the third Bruins player in franchise history to record three straight 100-point seasons, joining legends Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, Pastrnak’s accomplishment on a team that finished at the bottom of the league should have made him a true Hart Trophy contender.
There’s no denying that without Pastrnak’s point production, Boston’s season could have been even worse than it was. Finishing the season tied for third in points, with Draisaitl, was even more impressive — considering the start Pastrnak had.
“If you look and see at the start of the season that David got off to, the fact is that’s where he ended up in the scoring races, and overall in the league is even more impressive, because he, as well, did not get off to a torrid start by any means,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said during a recent appearance on the “100% Hockey” podcast. “He came off a little bit of knee stuff in the offseason. (He) probably didn’t have the most effective training schedule that he’s generally accustomed to having.
“So, he had a little bit of a slow start, but boy, did he produce. By year’s end, he was in the top echelon of the league, right where he belongs.”
The prolific scorer had been an offensive force all season, even with limited help around him. Pastrnak joined an elite group of Bruins legends with his fifth 40-goal season. Only Phil Esposito has more 40-goal seasons with seven, and Rick Middleton is the other Bruins forward to achieve the feat five times in his career.
Pastrnak ranked fifth in goals (43), behind league-leader Draisaitl (52), William Nylander (45) and Alex Ovechkin and Tage Thompson tied for third with 44 each. Boston’s inability to make the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season certainly doesn’t fall on Pastrnak’s shoulders. But it definitely cost him a bid for the Hart.
