By: Gayle Troiani | Follow me on Twitter @LadyBruinsFan
While Bruins fans have been waiting for news regarding a contract extension for David Pastrnak, the winger arrived in Boston ready to work, not worrying about his contract.
“Honestly, I know there has been contact between [Don Sweeney] and my agent,” Pastrnak said. “But, you know for me, I always said, I haven’t had a normal summer in a couple of years so my biggest thing was to get prepared for the season physically wise and mentally wise.
“It hasn’t been easy, and the motivation for this year was through the roof compared to the last couple of years. I had hip surgery and even last year with stuff. Finally, this summer, I’ve been able to work really hard, focus a little bit on my game. That was my main focus. That’s why we have agents to worry about that stuff, and the player can stay focused.”
Even without his contract status beyond the 2022-2023 NHL Season unknown, Pastrnak isn’t looking beyond the here and now.
“It’s not really my job to look where the team’s going to be in two to three years,” he explained. “I’m a player, and I’m just going to try my best to help the team win. I’m here to do my job. That’s what I’m aiming and thinking on, focusing about.”
Pastrnak did say he wants to stay in Boston.
“I said the city is where I got the chance to be the player I am, become the human being I am,” he said. “The Boston organization is an unbelievable part in it. I came here as a kid, and now I’m a man. I’m extremely happy, a lot of great memories. I’ve said many times, I love it here. It’s an honor to wear this jersey.”
Whether or not it’s his job to worry about where the team is headed, Pastrnak did have a hand in David Krejci returning to Boston.
“I must say, it has been the highlight of my last season,” Pastrnak said of playing with fellow Czech native Krejci. “The joy he brought me back to play hockey again in the World Championships is what I was kind of looking for this year, and it happened when I went there.”
Pastrnak said he filmed the now infamous video without Krejci knowing but asked his permission before posting it to his Instagram.
“We are obviously close friends, ” he said. “I’m really happy he came back […] With him, and [Patrice Bergeron], and [Brad Marchand], we have some new players, younger players, we can learn a lot from those three guys. So pumped to have him back, and I can’t wait for him to come to town.”
Pastrnak recognizes the first couple of months of the season are going to challenging for the team with Marchand and Charlie McCoy sidelined following offseason surgery.
“We got to be ready from Game One,” Pastrnak said. “There’s going to ice time for some other players to grab. It’s up to us. We have a great core and leadership, so I’m pretty sure we’ll be ready game one.
“It’s going to be challenging, as the whole season’s going to be. So the earlier you get through these challenges, the better you get as a team. Do it together, just stick together and do what it takes to get as many points we can without these guys.”
When asked what he expects for himself this season, Pastrnak noted being healthy determines pretty much everything.
“If I stay healthy, I know what I can do is this league when I’m 100 percent healthy,” he said. “That’s just my biggest focus. Enjoy that part of the game. I had a great summer healthy. Hopefully, that will stick the whole season. I know what I can do when I’m healthy.”
Following his arrival at Captain’s Practice on Friday, Pastrnak said he had not yet met new coach Jim Montgomery.
“I can’t wait to get to know him as a person,” Pastrnak said. “As a coach, I’ve only heard good things about him. I’m excited to meet him and see what he brings.”
Bruins fans should breathe a sigh of relief that Pastrnak is excited for the upcoming season, the new coach and that he is ready to play and win. The contract should and will come.
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