Pastrnak ‘really pumped’ to start the season playing alongside Krejci originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
BRIGHTON, Mass. — The Czech Republic is well-represented in the Boston Bruins locker room as the first game of the 2022-23 NHL regular season approaches.
There are six Czech-born players on the Bruins roster right now.
“That’s special, to be honest. I didn’t recognize that, how many Czech (players) we have, we are running the room right now,” Bruins forward David Pastrnak said with a smile at the team’s Media Day on Monday. “There’s going to be some Czech music playing for sure. I’m not sure guys will like it. But it’s fun.”
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Two of the most important players to the Bruins’ success this season will be Czech forwards David Krejci and Pastrnak. Krejci is back in Boston after playing in the Czech Republic league last season. He represents a sizeable upgrade over Erik Haula at second-line center.
Even though Krejci and Pastrnak didn’t play on the same line all that much during the veteran center’s first stint with the Bruins, they do have fantastic chemistry on the ice. That was evident during the preseason when Krejci, Pastrnak and fellow Czech forward Pavel Zacha dominated the New York Rangers in a 5-4 win last Wednesday.
“Really pumped, it’s so much fun. Playing with him is unbelievable,” Pastrnak said of Krejci. “I grew up watching him play. I missed him so much last year when he wasn’t here, not only as a player but as a friend, too. It was a little challenging last year, but he’s back now and I’m obviously really happy and excited we get to play together.
“Hopefully we can continue to get better from the preseason. I thought it was pretty good. Overall, I think we were on the puck a lot.”
Brad Marchand has been the Bruins’ leading scorer for two consecutive seasons, but he will be out of the lineup until around Thanksgiving as he rehabs from offseason hip surgery.
Overcoming the loss of the league’s best all-around left wing will be a challenge, but luckily for the Bruins, they have arguably the best second line in the league with Krejci, Pastrnak and Taylor Hall. This trio has the speed, size and skill to consistently put pressure on opponents and shoulder a good portion of the scoring burden until the team gets fully healthy.
“It’s always fun playing with (Pastrnak),” Krejci said Monday. “Hopefully we can be a good team at the beginning of the season and stick together as long as we can.”