David Pastrňák facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Pastrňák |
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Pastrňák with the Boston Bruins in September 2019
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| Born | 25 May 1996 Havířov, Czech Republic |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team | Boston Bruins | ||
| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 25th overall, 2014 Boston Bruins |
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| Playing career | 2014–present | ||
David Pastrňák (born 25 May 1996) is a professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He plays as a right winger and is an alternate captain for the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League (NHL). Fans often call him "Pasta."
The Bruins picked Pastrňák in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the NHL that same year. He has also played for the Czech national team many times. This includes playing in four World Championships. Many people think he is one of the best players in the NHL.
Contents
Early Life and Hockey Dreams
David Pastrňák was born on May 25, 1996, in Havířov, Czechia. His father, Milan Pastrňák, was a professional hockey player and coach. David started skating when he was just three years old. He loved hockey because of his dad.
When David was 13, he got an agent. This helped his family with the costs of hockey equipment. At 15, he moved to Třinec to live alone in a hotel. This was a test to see if he could move to Sweden later. In the 2011–12 season, David led the Czech under-18 league in goals and points.
In 2012–13, David moved to Sweden to play for Södertälje SK's junior team. There, he learned English and Swedish. He also started watching NHL games for the first time. In May 2013, his father Milan passed away after a long illness. David trained even harder after this sad event.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting in Sweden: Södertälje SK
For the 2013–14 season, Pastrňák joined Södertälje SK's main team. This team played in Allsvenskan, Sweden's second-best league. He led his team in points, scoring 8 goals and 16 assists in 36 games. He missed some games that season due to a concussion.
Joining the NHL: Boston Bruins (2014–Present)
First Years (2014–2016)
The Boston Bruins picked David Pastrňák 25th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year contract on July 15, 2014. He first played for the Providence Bruins, their minor league team.
David made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins on November 24, 2014. He scored his first two NHL goals on January 10, 2015. These goals helped the Bruins win 3–1 against the Philadelphia Flyers. On March 29, he became the youngest Bruins player to score an overtime winning goal. He was one of only two players from his draft year to play over 40 NHL games.
On February 24, 2016, David scored a penalty shot goal. He was the youngest Bruins player ever to do this. This happened during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. His exciting play made him very popular in Boston. That's how he got his nickname, "Pasta."
Becoming a Star: The "Perfection Line" Era (2016–2023)
On October 28, 2016, Pastrňák was suspended for two games. This was for a hit to the head of a New York Rangers player. The 2016–17 season was a huge year for him. He scored 34 goals and 36 assists, totaling 70 points. He led the Bruins in scoring.
He played on the first line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. This line became famous as the "Perfection Line." In the 2017 playoffs, he scored two goals and four points. The Bruins lost to the Ottawa Senators in six games.
On September 14, 2017, the Bruins signed Pastrňák to a big six-year contract. On March 13, 2018, he scored his first NHL hat-trick. This means he scored three goals in one game. On April 14, he scored another hat-trick and three assists in a playoff game. He became the youngest player in NHL history to score six points in a single playoff game. He even broke Wayne Gretzky's record!
In the 2018–19 season, Pastrňák played in his first NHL Winter Classic. He scored a goal to help the Bruins win. He was also chosen for his first National Hockey League All-Star Game. On January 16, 2019, he became the Bruins' all-time leader in goals before age 23. He won the NHL All-Star Skills Competition Accuracy Shooting event.
He scored his 30th goal of the season on January 31. This made him the first Bruins player to have three 30-goal seasons before turning 23. He then injured his thumb and was out for two weeks. He returned in March and scored his third career hat-trick. In the 2019 playoffs, the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Finals. They lost in seven games to the St. Louis Blues.
On October 14, 2019, Pastrňák scored all four of the Bruins' goals in a game. This was against the Anaheim Ducks. He was the 25th player in Bruins history to score four goals in one game. In the 2019–20 NHL season, he finished with 48 goals. He tied with Alexander Ovechkin for the most goals in the NHL. This made him the first Bruins player to win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.
In the shorter 2020–21 NHL season, Pastrňák scored 20 goals. This brought his career total to 200 goals. In the 2021 playoffs, he scored a hat-trick against the New York Islanders. The Bruins were eventually defeated by the Islanders.
During the amazing 2022–23 season, Pastrňák signed a new eight-year contract. He finished the season with a career-best 61 goals and 113 points. He was second in the league for goals. The Bruins had a record-breaking season, winning the Presidents' Trophy. Pastrňák was a finalist for two major awards: the Ted Lindsay Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy.
Recent Success (2023–Present)
Pastrňák continued his strong play in the 2023–24 season. He scored two goals in the first game against the Chicago Blackhawks. On January 20, 2024, he scored his 30th goal of the season. This was his seventh 30-goal season, tying a Bruins record.
On April 4, 2024, he scored his 60th game-winning goal. This tied him for fifth most in Bruins history. He was also named to his second straight All-Star Game. In the 2024 playoffs, his coach challenged him to play better. Pastrňák responded by scoring the winning goal in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This sent the Bruins to the next round.
Playing for His Country
.jpg) Pastrňák with the 2024 IIHF World Championship trophy |
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Czech Republic |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
| Bronze | 2022 Finland | |
| Gold | 2024 Czechia | |
| IIHF U18 Championships | ||
| Silver | 2014 Finland | |
| Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament | ||
| Bronze | 2013 Slovakia/Czech Republic | |
David Pastrňák has played for the Czech Republic's national teams at all levels. He has often led his team in scoring. He won a bronze medal at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. In 2014, he won a silver medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships.
In 2016, he joined the Czech national team for the first time. This was at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. He also played for the Czech Republic at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. After the 2018 NHL playoffs, he played in the 2018 IIHF World Championship.
In 2024, he played at the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Czechia. He won a gold medal and scored the winning goal in the final game. He was also named player of the game.
Personal Life
David Pastrňák is married to Rebecca Rohlsson. They got married in Croatia in August 2024. They have a daughter named Freya Ivy Pastrňák, who was born on June 8, 2023.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2011–12 | HC AZ Havířov 2010 | CZE U16 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | HC AZ Havířov 2010 | CZE U18 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | HC AZ Havířov 2010 | CZE-2 U20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | HC AZ Havířov 2010 | CZE-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | HC Oceláři Třinec | CZE U18 | 31 | 33 | 14 | 47 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Södertälje SK | J18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Södertälje SK | J18 Allsv | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Södertälje SK | J20 | 36 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 67 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | ||
| 2012–13 | Södertälje SK | Allsv | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Södertälje SK | J20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Södertälje SK | Allsv | 36 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 25 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 46 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 51 | 15 | 11 | 26 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 75 | 34 | 36 | 70 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 2017–18 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 82 | 35 | 45 | 80 | 37 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 8 | ||
| 2018–19 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 66 | 38 | 43 | 81 | 32 | 24 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 4 | ||
| 2019–20 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 70 | 48 | 47 | 95 | 40 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 48 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 8 | ||
| 2021–22 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 72 | 40 | 37 | 77 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 82 | 61 | 52 | 113 | 38 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 82 | 47 | 63 | 110 | 47 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 25 | ||
| NHL totals | 674 | 348 | 379 | 727 | 300 | 90 | 39 | 48 | 87 | 55 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Czech Republic | U17 | 8th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | Czech Republic | U18 | 7th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2013 | Czech Republic | IH18 |  |
4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Czech Republic | WJC | 6th | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2014 | Czech Republic | U18 |  |
7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2015 | Czech Republic | WJC | 6th | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2016 | Czech Republic | WJC | 5th | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Czech Republic | WC | 5th | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2016 | Czech Republic | WCH | 6th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | Czech Republic | WC | 7th | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2018 | Czech Republic | WC | 7th | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2022 | Czechia | WC | |
7 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2024 | Czechia | WC |  |
4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 35 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 12 | ||||
| Senior totals | 35 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 12 | ||||
Awards, Honors, and Records
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Czech under-18 League | ||
| Most goals (41) | 2012 | |
| Most game-winning goals (11) | 2012 | |
| Most points (68) | 2012 | |
| Czech Republic | ||
| Golden Hockey Stick | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 | |
| Sportsperson of the Year | 2020 | |
| AHL | ||
| AHL Rookie of the Month (October) | 2015 | |
| AHL All-Star Game | 2015 | |
| NHL | ||
| NHL All-Star Game | 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024 | |
| NHL All-Star Skills Competition Accuracy Shooting Winner | 2019 | |
| NHL All-Star Game MVP | 2020 | |
| Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy | 2020 | |
| NHL First All-Star Team | 2020, 2023 | |
| NHL Second All-Star Team | 2024 | |
| International | ||
| Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament Bronze Medal | 2013 | |
| IIHF World U18 Championship Silver Medal | 2014 | |
| IIHF World Junior Championship Top 3 Player on Team | 2015, 2016 | |
| IIHF World Championship Top 3 Player on Team | 2018 | |
| IIHF World Championship Bronze Medal | 2022 | |
| IIHF World Championship Gold Medal | 2024 | |
| Boston Bruins | ||
| Seventh Player Award | 2015, 2017 | |
| Eddie Shore Award | 2017 | |
| John P. Bucyk Award | 2017 | |
| Bruins Three Stars Awards | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 | |
| Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy | 2020, 2022 | |
He was named one of the top 20 Bruins of all time during their Centennial Season.
- He was chosen as the Atlantic Division captain for the 2020 National Hockey League All-Star Game.
Records
NHL
- Youngest player in NHL history to get six points in one playoff game (21 years and 324 days) – April 14, 2018
Boston Bruins
- Youngest player in Bruins history to score an overtime winning goal in the regular season – March 29, 2015
- Youngest player ever to score a penalty shot goal – February 24, 2016
- Youngest player to score 30 goals in a regular season – 20 years and 291 days
- Most goals in Bruins history before turning 23.
- Most 30+ goal seasons before turning 23 in Bruins history.
- First and only player in Bruins history to have three 30+ goal seasons before turning 23.
- First and only player in Bruins history to score all four of his team's goals in a game.
- First and only player in Bruins history to win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.
Czech Republic
- Youngest player in history to win the Golden Stick Award – 21 years and 27 days.
- Most consecutive Golden Hockey Stick Award wins – 5
