Latest news with #Pastrnak
Boston Globe
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
In his first day with the Bruins, James Hagens basks in the responsibility to represent his ‘second home'
A photo of Hagens — donning a spoked-B sweater for the first time during Friday's NHL Draft — joined the likes of Pastrnak, Thornton, Charlie McAvoy, and other Bruins franchise fixtures in that shadow box. One of the exhibits at the Bruins' Heritage Hall features several franchise regulars getting drafted. James Hagens' photo has already been added. Hagens on visiting TD Garden: 'It makes you want to make the team. It makes you want to work as hard as possible so that you can… — Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) Such are the expectations placed on Hagens, a teenager whose sky-high potential is feeling the weight of being a franchise savior. Advertisement But as Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'It makes you want to make the team,' Hagens said following his first day of development camp. 'It makes you want to work as hard as possible so that you can be the guy that can call this home. You could be on that ice playing for these fans.' Monday was not the first time Hagens has paid a visit to the Bruins' home barn. Frequent hockey tournaments brought Hagens and his family up over the years, and he's more than found his bearings since first arriving at BC last fall. Advertisement In February, he etched his skates into the frozen sheet at TD Garden with a pair of games at Hagens is looking to follow in Leonard's footsteps in 2025-26 — be it during the fall or after the Eagles' season comes to a close in March or April. As he toured the Bruins' dressing room and stepped on the floor where his dangles and dekes could cause nearly 20,000 to rise as one, Hagens felt reassurance. It was as though fate had once again brought the Long Island native back to Boston. 'The fans are so passionate about this team,' Hagens said. 'They're so passionate about their sports here. I wanted to go to school here — so I was fortunate enough to be picked by the Bruins. It's a dream come true, to be able to stay in Boston. It's like a second home.' The ice won't be set down on Causeway for at least another few months, but as Hagens and the rest of the Bruins' Development Camp roster toured the arena, the message remained resolute. 'If things aren't going your way and you need a push, this is something to think back on,' former Bruins blueliner and current team player development coordinator Adam McQuaid told Boston's camp roster as they sat in the team's dressing room. 'It's something to work toward.' Who needs sleep? It hasn't taken very long for Hagens to put his best foot forward. Advertisement The day after he was drafted, Hagens and 'Definitely build a deeper connection when you're sleeping together on the floor of the airport,' Moore joked. By the time the duo finally boarded a plane, it was 10 p.m. on the East Coast. They arrived at the team hotel at 4 a.m. — with departure for Warrior Ice Arena scheduled for 6:45. Hagens' top concern at the time? Not waking up his hotel roommate, BC teammate 'I had my earplugs in,' Gasseau said. 'He told me he was tiptoeing around the room.' After both Hagens and Moore passed their physicals, the Bruins announced both Hagens and Moore had other plans, and took the ice. James Hagens and William Moore are on the ice. — Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) 'When you have a chance to put on the Bruin jersey, you can't say no,' Hagens said after practice. 'It doesn't matter what flight delay or how much sleep you get. This is a dream come true, and it's the first time you're able to put on the jersey. 'You'd have to cut off my leg to tell me I couldn't get on that ice.' Showing his stuff Hagens was no worse for wear as he separated himself from the pack during edge-work drills. At least, he didn't show it to McQuaid and the rest of Boston's development personnel. 'He didn't seem to miss a beat after going through a busy couple days,' McQuaid said. 'You can tell how smooth he is out there, and confident with the puck. … It seems like he's excited to be out there. Advertisement 'He came down one end and got to shoot and it was like, 'All right, here we go.' Driven to score some goals. So yeah, it was a great first day and great first impression, on and off the ice.' Hours after, Hagens planted himself at the front of the auditorium at Heritage Hall. The usual hits played out on the screen. No. 4 For a New York native who once had a poster of Matt Martin on his bedroom wall, some of those videos may not have resonated. At least, not until now. In Hagens, a Bruins team short on elite talent and a fanbase yearning for hope has seemingly found its man. And in return, Hagens has found a new home — and a team and city worth fighting for as he sets his sights on a black-and-gold sweater. 'It comes with a lot of pride,' said Boston's first top-10 pick in 14 years. 'A lot of honor to be able to be a part of something like this — to be able to even get picked and to say you're picked by the Boston Bruins. It doesn't really hit you until you're up on that stage. 'But you know it's going to come with a lot of hard work. I know how hard it's going to be, and that's just, it's just a big step. I'm willing to do it. I'm willing to give everything I possibly have into this game and this organization, to the fan base. Advertisement 'I'm just excited to get it going.' Conor Ryan can be reached at
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
The trending news is that the NHL starts teasing a spicy reveal as the Boston Bruins set up a cryptic David Pastrnak announcement
David Pastrnak of Czechia during the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship (Credit: Getty Images) On Sunday night, the Boston Bruins dropped an eight-second teaser that sent fans into overdrive. In the short clip, forward David Pastrnak appears, looming above the camera before reaching down to grab what seems to be a jersey. The video cuts before revealing more, ending with a clear onscreen date, 6.25.25; setting up a mysterious midweek announcement. David Pastrnak's presence fuels speculation on captaincy The decision to feature David Pastrnak so prominently has not gone unnoticed. Pastrnak is not only the Bruins' top offensive weapon but also the face of the franchise. With Brad Marchand having been traded to the Florida Panthers at the deadline, the captaincy is currently vacant. Some fans now believe the team may be signaling that Pastrnak is set to become the next Bruins captain. A new jersey could be more than just a redesign, it could carry the symbolic 'C' on his chest, marking a new era of leadership in Boston. Given Pastrnak's stature and influence, it wouldn't be surprising if the announcement connects both jersey design and a leadership transition. Jersey leak from March hints at new design drop While the captaincy speculation is strong, there's also evidence pointing to a jersey reveal. Back in March, reports surfaced about a possible redesign of the Bruins' jersey for the 2025–26 NHL season. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The timing aligns perfectly. Unveiling a new uniform in late June gives the team ample runway to merchandise and market the gear ahead of the new season. Pastrnak's jersey grab in the video and the camera cutting out before the jersey is revealed seem too precise to be coincidental. It strongly hints that fans will be getting a first look at Boston's fresh threads on Wednesday. All signs point to big changes ahead in Boston Whether this week's announcement is about a new captain, a new jersey, or both, the Boston Bruins are setting the tone for a new chapter. The combination of recent trades, shifting leadership, and carefully timed teasers suggests the franchise is rebranding in more ways than one. Fans won't have to wait long. With June 25 now circled on the calendar, the hockey world will be watching closely as the Bruins make their next big move. Also Read: NHL trade rumors: the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders eye blockbuster deal ahead of 2025 Draft For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Boston Globe
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Morgan Geekie hopes he has a good shot to return to the Bruins
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up General manager Don Sweeney has a lot to figure out this summer, figuring all the more daunting if negotiations for a Geekie extension drag on, possibly reach impasse ( Advertisement None of that seems to be causing Geekie much anxiety — perhaps because he's looking at a substantial, potentially whopping, increase over the two-year/$4 million deal he signed to come here two years ago as an unrestricted free agent. Advertisement Contract talks to this point, said Geekie, have been 'pretty preliminary' between his agent, Judd Moldaver , and Sweeney. 'I honestly don't ask too many questions when it comes to that,' Geekie said. 'Like I've said, I love playing in Boston and would love to be there as long as I can. I'm super hopeful it will be sorted out, but [the Bruins are busy with] a high pick in the draft, and there's free agents to be had. I think for me it's more a matter of when, I guess, it's going to happen when it happens, and I'm not putting too much pressure on it.' Related : It can be partly cloudy, trending toward a tornado of miscalculations, to try to read the weather around contract talks. Nonetheless, Geekie sounded positive about the process and optimistic about returning. No doubt his return would be embraced by a fan base still trying to come to grips with a season that sorta started out real slow and then fizzled out all together (pop culture coincidence: rock legend Neil Young and Geekie grew up around Winnipeg). Geekie ended up second in Bruins scoring to Czech wonder David Pastrnak , While it's true that Geekie is among the 99 percent of NHL forwards not in Pastrnak's elite scoring class, his late-season finishing kick showed he has the skills to hunt with the big dogs. He has a heavy, menacing shot — one perhaps he should use more —and a willingness to barge his way into 'inside ice,' prime scoring spots. Advertisement 'A lot of things,' said Geekie, asked what factors he believed most influenced his uptick in production, particularly goal scoring. 'Obviously, playing with Dave helps a lot — he's a world-class player — and he taught me a lot of things on offense that I never really thought of before, helped me add aspects to my game where I try to be at the right spots at the right time. I think I have my shot as an asset, and it helped being able to put myself in those spots to use it effectively.' Geekie scored on 33 of his 150 shots, a 22.0 percent success rate that led the club's regulars. He was followed by Charlie Coyle (16.3) and perennial volume shooter Pastrnak (13.5). League-wide, 155 players this past season landed 150 or more shots on net, and only three cashed in with similar proficiency, Tampa Bay's Brayden Point (42 goals/22.2 percent); Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl (52 goals/21.7); and Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele (39 goals/21.6). Outstanding company. Also reason for Geekie to remain hammer-ready. 'I've never really been known to take a ton of shots,' noted Geekie, whose previous high (130) was set in his first season as a Bruin. 'It just seemed that I had a lot of high-quality chances and I think a lot of those came from creating in a lot of different ways — creating off the rush, creating below the goal line. All of it kind of added up. I learned a lot and I owe a lot to Pav [ Pavel Zacha ], Dave, and Lindy [ Elias Lindholm ].' Geekie grew up just west of Winnipeg, as did his wife, Emma (the two often were linemates in Strathclair amateur hockey), and the couple have made Calgary their offseason home since the summer of 2023 Advertisement 'When I was playing with Seattle, I came here for a week or two to train with one of my buddies and loved it,' mused Geekie. 'We live in a hamlet — whatever a hamlet is — and we're kind of by the golf course and right next to the firehall.' With his hands hotter than they've ever been, sounds as if Geekie is in just the right place. Across the final 20 games of this season, beginning just before what was the seismic March 7 trade deadline, Geekie went 14-11—25. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Games in hand Record number could reach 1,000 The upcoming season is shaping up to be the busiest in league history for handing out silver sticks. Upon season's end, 26 active NHLers, including former Bruins Tyler Seguin , Craig Smith , Marcus Johansson , Charlie Coyle , and Reilly Smith , all had logged at least 919 regular-season games and could reach or crest the 1,000-game plateau during the 2025-26 season. Inevitably, be it due to retirement or injury, it's unlikely all 26 will reach four figures. However, it easily should set a record, most players to reach the 1,000 mark in the same season. Per the league stats department, the record is 15 players to get there in the same season — a mark set five times across seasons 2001-02 through 2023-24. For a league that puts such a beating on the working help, that's an impressive tally. To date, 404 NHLers have played 1,000 games or more. Advertisement Oilers forward Adam Henrique (993) should be the first to get to 1,000 next season. The five ex-Bruins in the same flight path and their current club/total games: Seguin (Dallas/989); Craig Smith (Chicago/987); Johansson (Minnesota/983); Coyle (Colorado/950) and Reilly Smith (Vegas/919). Of the 26 NHLers on the doorstep, 19 are forwards and seven are defensemen. Blues blue liner Ryan Suter (1,526) finished 2024-25 atop the heap of most games played among active players. Topping the current Bruins roster for games played: David Pastrnak (756) and Charlie McAvoy (504). Charlie Coyle could surpass the 1,000-game mark this season. David Zalubowski/Associated Press ETC. Sturm grew up with drive So, what is there to know about Marco Sturm's hometown of Dingolfing, Germany? 'Pretty simple,' said a chuckling Sturm, who grew up in the town at the southern edge of Bavaria. 'It's the home of BMW, a town of maybe 25,000, and I think maybe 30,000 work at the BMW factory. If you open up a BMW door, you'll see it says, 'Made in Dingolfing.' That's all you gotta know.' The last job Sturm held before signing his pro hockey contract at age 16 was with BMW. He signed up with the automaker at his father's insistence, entering the luxury car's workforce as an electrical engineering trainee. 'Now, I gotta say, I gotta say,' noted a chuckling, self-effacing Sturm, 'I was there only six months and the job I was doing really had nothing to do with electrical engineering. They try to build you up that first year for your second year, so it was just entry level — I had to do the dirty work.' Related : Advertisement Only weeks into his BMW stay, yet to turn 17, he signed with the pro team in nearby Landshut for the 1995-96 season. After only a season there, he was drafted by the Sharks in 1996 and returned to Landshut for one more season as lead-up to making his NHL debut with the Sharks in October 1997. 'I think it helped me,' said Sturm, laughing as he reflected on his father pointing him to the BMW factory. 'Did I like it? No. But my dad did the right thing — he wanted me to make some money. I said, 'Dad, I know I'm going to play professional hockey!' And he said, 'Yeah, but you can get hurt tomorrow, and you need to start making money, learn how to make money.' So I did it. But let me say, I was really happy when I signed [with Landshut] and didn't have to go back.' While in Landshut, Sturm met Astrid , who later became his wife, and they return to her hometown every summer with son Mason and daughter Kaydie . Sturm's dad still lives in Dingolfing, where the cars keep rolling off the line while Marco, new keys in hand, readies to take the wheel as the new Bruins coach. Related : Rangers could eye Grzelcyk The Rangers added $6.5 million to their summer shopping funds upon moving Chris Kreider to the Ducks. Don't be surprised if GM Chris Drury uses some of the extra cash to add another Boston University alum, Matt Grzelcyk , to the Blueshirts' backline, particularly now with Mike Sullivan and David Quinn behind the bench. Grzelcyk played for both coaches last season in Pittsburgh, rolling up a career-high 39 assists and 40 points. Not asked back by the Bruins after last season, 'Grizzy' signed on with the Penguins for one year/$2.75 million and will be an unrestricted free agent as of July 1. With Kreider off the books, Drury has some $15 million of available cash, according to Meanwhile, Drury also is rumored to be looking to move No. 1 center Mika Zibanejad (five more years at $8.5 million AAV). The Swedish-born pivot last season dipped to 20-42—62, looking at times like an old 31-year-old (and now 32). The Ducks still have gobs of money to spend (north of $32 million in cap space) and they already have ex-Rangers captain Jacob Trouba and Pat Verbeek , with Joel Quenneville behind the bench, opts for a full ex-Blueshirt makeover, like new facing on existing kitchen cabinets. If Kreider and Zibanejad were recharged by that bunch of surrounding young forwards, the Ducks could be mighty again and soon. The risk: the vets, faced with the inevitable drain of time and greater travel grind out west, fail to surge and they prevent the kids from thriving. Tricky balance. The Bruins and Zibanejad? It can't be discounted. However, the Bruins and Blueshirts aren't likely trade partners unless Drury were to hold back, say, 25-33 percent of that $42.5 million cap hit remaining on Zibanejad's contract. Zibanejad and fellow Swede Elias Lindholm could make an interesting tandem in the 1-2 center spots. On the power play alone, Zibanejad averaged 13 goals and 30 points the last three years. He was out of the lineup for only one of 246 regular-season games. Loose pucks In 1996, when the Sharks drafted Sturm at No. 21, the Bruins misfired at No. 8, selecting WHL Medicine Hat blue liner Johnathan Aitken . Heavy afoot, the 6-4 Aitken suited up for only three games with the Bruins, and eventually 41 more with the Blackhawks before finishing up with a final career twirl in Klagenfurt, Austria, at age 29 … The Islanders made the best pick in the '96, draft, and one of the best in league history, selecting Zdeno Chara , some unheralded, gangly defenseman from Trencin, Slovakia, at No. 56. Chara, by the way, has been retired for three years and thus becomes eligible this coming week for Hockey Hall of Fame consideration. Ditto for Joe Thornton , whom the Bruins took at No. 1 in the '97 draft. The HHOF will announce its new inductees Tuesday, 3 p.m, and it would be a shock if Big Z and Jumbo Joe aren't part of the class that will be inducted Nov. 10 in Toronto … Those who had the unique pleasure of watching his career may be challenged today to imitate Derek Sanderson's trademark sweep check in the privacy of their family room, but let it be noted that the inimitable 'Turk' on Monday celebrated his 79th birthday. Finish the sentence: 'Orr, to Sanderson, back to … ' … Three of the game's narrative voices that I missed all the more while watching the Cup playoffs on TV the last two months: 1. Gary Thorne ; 2. Mike 'Doc' Emrick ; and 3. Mike Milbury . I could be entertained if the first two read aloud the potential side effects listed on the side of a pill bottle. 'Ohhhh, what do we have HERE?!' Milbury, in his NBC commentating days, sometimes said things that made the network's iconic peacock blush. And it was splendid, every true word of it … The Stanley Cup Final on TNT often had me turning off the TV and opting instead to listen to the action via the NHL app, which offered (for free!) the individual radio feeds of the Panthers and Oilers. Still love listening to games, especially hockey and baseball, via radio, forever reminded of my old man listening to the Sox on his Admiral transistor radio. 'Yanks win again,' he'd say with disgust, sitting at the kitchen table as he clicked off the radio. 'Never changes, bag job.' Mel lived from 1922-89, just more than 67 years of that 86-year dry spell … I told ya, Oilers in six. Missed it by that much. Yeah, I knew Zach Hyman wouldn't be able to go, but still thought the Oilers had the requisite underlying cast to make up for his distinct blend of sandpaper and finish. Yet another lesson in how few players are able to summon his kind of moxie, especially in the playoffs … Following Game 5 of the Cup Final, in which he contributed a pair of dazzling snipes to the Panthers' win, Brad Marchand was asked what the 2011 version of himself — a Cup winner that spring with the Bruins — would think of the 2025 iteration of No. 63. 'Man,' mused Marchand, 'that guy's good looking.' Morgan Geekie , asked about his former captain's quip: 'That fits the bill perfectly, exactly the response I would have [expected], too. He brings that kind of humor every day and he shows up to work — they got a good one.' Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at
Boston Globe
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Bruins David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Pavel Zacha to play in 2026 Milan Olympics
McAvoy, who has a decorated history with Team USA, was an alternate captain at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. McAvoy's season ended prematurely at the 4 Nations after he suffered a shoulder injury in the opener. He played in Team USA's raucous win over Canada in Montreal but then dealt with a staph infection that Though McAvoy eventually returned to practice, he never got back to game action. Advertisement 'I don't even feel like I played hockey this year,' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up McAvoy said at the time that one of his goals was still to represent the US in the Olympics, and now he will get that chance. 'That is my dream of dreams, to play in an Olympics,' said McAvoy, who has played for Uncle Sam at two World Championships (2017, 2018) and won a gold medal at the 2017 World Junior Championship. 'Every part of that 4 Nations was a dream come true. There's a reason why I played that [Canada] game, because I'm not missing the game that I've dreamt of my whole life — it's the aftermath of that, that cost me my year. There's a lot of, I don't want to say regret, but an acceptance of what happened. And it sucks that I am still coming to grips with it. But I wouldn't trade it, the experiences, the friendships. I mean, that's what you dream of, and I've dreamt of that on a broader scale of being in the Olympics.' Advertisement Pastrnak has represented Czechia in six World Championships (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024, and 2025). He led all players in scoring at this year's tournament with 15 points in eight games. He was named to the tournament's All-Star team and named best forward. Zacha also represented Czechia at three IIHF World Junior Championships (2014, 2015, 2016). As rosters expand, it's likely more Bruins will be named. Those who will be under consideration include goalies In addition, Dans Locmelis, a 2022 draftee, has represented Latvia at numerous international tournaments, and would likely get the call again. Among those with Massachusetts connections that were named Monday include Jack Eichel (US/Chelmsford/Boston University), Brady Tkachuk (US/BU), and Cale Makar (Canada/UMass). Jim McBride can be reached at
Boston Globe
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Pastrnak, Lauko each score as Czechia shuts out Germany to remain unbeaten at ice hockey worlds
The Czechs complete the group stage against the Americans on Tuesday. Germany and Denmark also meet on Tuesday and will decide the fourth team from the group to reach the quarterfinals. The Czechs' Jakub Flek scored twice and Pastrnak rifled a one-timer from the left circle and set up Lukas Sedlak in the middle period. Lauko added a short-handed goal. Former Bruins prospect Daniel Vladar shut out the Germans with 19 saves. Advertisement In Stockholm, newcomer Slovenia beat France 3-1 to avoid relegation at the expense of the French. Later Monday, Canada plays Finland in Stockholm and Norway meets Hungary in Herning, Denmark.
