Pastrnak is coming off a stellar 2017-18 season in which he logged 35 goals and 80 points in 82 games before racking up six goals and 20 points in 12 playoff contests. The 2014 first-rounder is obviously a rising NHL star, but there's still some untapped potential here, as the youngster just celebrated his 22nd birthday on May 25. It's no secret that the 6-foot, 188-pound winger brings plenty of energy, enthusiasm and dynamic skills (including a dangerous release on one-timers) to the rink. Where Pastrnak's game has continued to grow relates to his improving strength on pucks in one-on-one battles. Entrenched on Boston's top line this coming season, with regular power-play duty on tap, Pastrnak's fantasy outlook remains bright.
Pastrnak is coming off a breakout campaign during which he exploded for 34 goals and 70 points in 75 games. Since being chosen 25th overall by the Bruins in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the 21-year-old has quickly emerged as one of the game's more dynamic young forwards. As last season approached, the biggest challenge facing the young Czech - whom the Bruins list at 6-foot, 181 pounds - was proving that he could withstand the physical rigors of the NHL. While Pastrnak will never be a bruiser, the offseason work that he put in over the summer paid off in spades, making the skilled and shifty winger heavier on the puck. There's still room for growth in all aspects of Pastrnak's game, who is with the B's for the long haul, courtesy of the six-year, $40 million deal he inked with the team in September.
Though Pastrnak just turned 20 in May, the native of the Czech Republic already has 97 NHL games under his belt, as he approaches his third campaign as a pro. While chosen 25th overall by the Bruins in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Pastrnak has emerged as one of the premier young talents in that class. He finished the 2015-16 season with 15 goals and 26 points in 51 games, with his second NHL campaign representing an up and down effort as a whole, hampered by injuries, most notably a fractured foot that the winger suffered on Oct. 31. Though the Bruins have had to endure occasional lapses in Pastrnak’s puck management and defensive positioning, the energetic skater continues to display a skill set and brand of offensive flare that portends a high fantasy ceiling. With a top-six role likely on tap for Pastrnak this coming season, doubling his 2015-16 numbers is attainable assuming he avoids missing significant time due to injury. Currently listed at 6-foot, 181-pounds, Pastrnak’s biggest challenge remains his ability to withstand the physical rigors of the NHL, but he’s still filling out physically. Continuing to round out his all-around game remains his on-ice homework this season, but the spark that he offers the B’s attack is already evident.
Selected 25th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Pastrnak -- who the Bruins list at 6-foot-0 and 167 pounds -- was viewed as a long shot to crack the big club’s roster at any point during his age-18 season. While he unsurprisingly began the 2014-15 campaign with AHL Providence, Pastrnak got off to a strong start there and was eventually called up in late November by the B’s, who were looking for a spark up front. The skilled, but slight Pastrnak ended up recording 10 goals and 27 points in 46 games for the Bruins, displaying a nice blend of speed, creativity and offensive instincts that bode well for his future production. With the likes of Milan Lucic, Carl Soderberg and Reilly Smith having been cycled out, the retooling B’s are counting heavily on youngsters like Pastrnak and Ryan Spooner to build off the promising second halves they delivered last season. With that in mind, it’s quite possible that Pastrnak, who turned 19 in May, could end up working on a line with talented playmaking pivot David Krejci; in such a scenario, the winger could make an even bigger splash during his second pro campaign in North America. Holding up to the physical rigors of the NHL remains Pastrnak’s biggest challenge, though to his credit, he showed a refreshing willingness to battle for pucks with bigger and more experienced opponents last season.
The 2014 first-round pick from the Czech Republic spent last season in the Swedish B-League, appearing in 36 games and scoring eight goals to go with 16 assists. The 18-year-old Pastrnak will attend training camp with the B's and while the 6-foot, 171-pounder seems like a bit of a long shot at this stage to stick, his speed and skill opened eyes during the teams development camp. He’s a player to keep an eye on this fall, given that his listed position is right wing, an area where the Bruins have an opening.
