David Pastrnak solidified his career as a Boston Bruin by signing an 8-year extension worth $11.25 million annually on March 2. Twenty-four days later, Pastrnak solidified his spot in Bruins history with his 50th goal of the season, the first Bruin to reach 50 goals since Bruins Team President Cam Neely in 1993-94.
In the first period of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, the right-winger finished a nifty feed from defenseman Charlie McAvoy for his 50th marker of the season. Pastrnak’s previous high was 48 goals in 2019-20. The Havirov, Czechia native now has three 40-plus goal seasons and is the second NHL player to reach 50 goals. Connor McDavid of Edmonton has 60 goals to lead the league.
Pastrnak would score again in the second period and has notched 601 career points and is nine goals away from 300 in his career. The 26-year-old forward‘s 97 points in 2022-23 are a career-high.
Pastrnak was a first-round draft pick, 25th overall, of the Bruins in 2014 and is eighth all-time in Bruins history with 291 career goals, and is 53 behind Neely for seventh place. Pastrnak has played 583 career games with Boston and is tied for 51st among active NHL leaders in points.
