Bruins Need More Than David Pastrnak’s One-Man Show to Make Playoffs
Highlights
- Boston Bruins wing David Pastrnak has averaged 109.7 points over the past three seasons.
- The 2024-25 Bruins finished last in the Atlantic Division and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
- Finding supplemental offensive contributions combined with a strong comeback from goaltender Jeremy Swayman can help Boston defy gloomy preseason prognostications.
Year after year, Boston Bruins wing David Pastrnak is a model of consistency.
The 29-year-old right wing has started off the 2025-26 NHL season at his typical best by registering four points (one goal, three assists) through two games played.
There’s no doubt that Pastrnak is one of the league’s most precise snipers and elite offense drivers. His blink-and-you-miss-it shot, excellent skating and uncanny ability to anticipate plays before they happen puts him in an all-world bracket.
As long as Pastrnak is healthy, he's going to eclipse 100 points and do everything possible to keep the B's in the postseason hunt. But the Bruins will need a lot more ingredients than a hefty helping of “Pasta” to put together a playoff-quality recipe.
Several leading hockey analysts have predicted that the Bruins will again finish last in the Atlantic Division. Money Puck gave Boston just a 14.5 percent chance of making the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
Bruins Must Find Supplemental Offense
Last season, the Bruins missed the postseason for the first time since 2016. New head coach Marco Sturm will look to improve on last campaign's 33-39-10 record that put Boston in the Atlantic Division cellar.
Aside from superb goaltender Jeremy Swayman and Pastrnak, the Bruins don't possess many high-end talents. Swayman must return to form after posting a .892 save percentage and a 3.11 goals against average last season. The Bruins need improved returns from forwards Morgan Geekie, Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha.
Blue line duo Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm will need to stay healthy after missing significant time last season. Lindholm has already suffered a lower-body injury, though Sturm has brushed off any fear of it being anything serious. He only skated in 17 games last season after being limited by a fractured patella.
“It’s just a minor injury, not related to his old injury,” Sturm told Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com. “We just wanted to make sure he will be okay. He’s gonna get tested tomorrow and we’ll see.”
Always Productive and Durable Pastrnak Leads the Way for the B’s
Pastrnak hasn't missed a regular season game over the past three seasons. He's averaged 109.7 points (50.3 goals, 59.3 assists) per season across that span.
Last season, he chipped in 106 points (43 goals, 63 assists) in 82 games.
The Czech wing puts the Bruins on his shoulders – but it shouldn’t all be on his shoulders. The big question is whether Boston can find more production across four lines and three d-pairs.
If Sturm can summon improvement from established veterans and unlock the potential of youngsters like 21-year-old center Fraser Minten, then perhaps the Bruins can be a sneaky surprise team.
Carolina Panthers Rookie’s Heartbreaking Journey to the NFL: A Story of Resilience, Family, and Redemption
Charlotte, NC – October 10, 2025 – For many, the journey to the NFL is one of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. But for Carolina Panthers rookie, Tetairoa McMillan, his road to the NFL is defined by something far more powerful: family, resilience, and the strength to overcome a childhood marked by hardship and separation.
McMillan, now a promising young star for the Carolina Panthers, has already faced a journey few can truly understand. At just 10 years old, he was thrust into a world of uncertainty when his parents divorced. The separation fractured his childhood, with both of his parents moving on to build new families, leaving McMillan to navigate his youth without the conventional family structure many take for granted.
What followed was a life that many might deem tragic, but for McMillan, it was the foundation of his character. Raised by his grandparents, McMillan found love, stability, and guidance. They provided him with a safe space to heal and grow, even as the absence of his biological parents loomed over his daily life. Despite the challenges, McMillan has always remained grateful for the support his grandparents offered, and it was their encouragement that helped him succeed both on and off the field.
“Growing up with my grandparents wasn’t easy, but it was full of love,” McMillan shared. “They taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and kindness. I never really saw my parents after they divorced, but that didn’t matter. I had all I needed from my grandparents.”
Now, as McMillan embarks on his NFL career, the very people who once left him have returned to congratulate him. His parents, who built new families and lived separate lives for years, have recently come back into his life to celebrate his success. In a touching moment, McMillan received a heartfelt message from both parents after earning his first NFL paycheck.
“Getting that first paycheck was a huge milestone for me,” McMillan explained. “But the moment that truly meant the most was when my parents reached out. It was like a full circle. They were there for me in a way I never expected.”
The emotional reunion is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness. Despite the years of separation and heartache, McMillan has allowed himself to heal and find peace. The love of his grandparents, coupled with the support of his parents as he begins his NFL journey, has become a symbol of how family—both the ones we’re born into and the ones we create—can shape our destiny.
For the Panthers, McMillan is not only a player with immense potential on the field, but he represents something far greater—a story of triumph over adversity, a testament to resilience, and a reminder that success is not solely defined by where we come from, but by how we rise above the challenges we face.
As McMillan prepares for his future in the NFL, he is not only fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a professional athlete. He is also proving that no matter the circumstances, it’s never too late to rewrite your story—and that family, in all its forms, is what truly makes us whole.
