David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins
In Friday’s episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Boston Bruins alternate captain David Pastrnak expressed his desire to see Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl join the Bruins. When the host mentioned a few potential additions, Pastrnak nodded in agreement at Draisaitl’s name, saying, “I would love Draisaitl.”
However, Pastrnak was less enthusiastic about Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi rejoining the Bruins. “Bertuzzi went to the Leafs. I mean, I don’t know, you guys got me into a tight squeeze right now,” Pastrnak said.
Pastrnak also highlighted the Bruins’ rich NHL history as a significant draw for potential players. “For the Boston Bruins, part of the Original 6, that should be enough to entice you to play here. We’ll see, I think it’s going to be an interesting summer,” he added.
Draisaitl, who signed an eight-year, $68 million contract with the Oilers in August 2017, has one more year left before becoming an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2025-26 season. Depending on the outcome of the Western Conference Finals, currently tied 2-2, the Oilers might consider trading Draisaitl if they fail to secure a championship this year.
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The Bruins could also pursue Tyler Bertuzzi, who is set to become a free agent, but this possibility remains uncertain.
In the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Pastrnak helped Czechia defeat Switzerland 2-0 in Prague, scoring the game-winning goal in the third period. This goal, his first of the tournament, broke a four-game drought and led to frenzied celebrations. Pastrnak expressed his pride in winning gold at home, marking Czechia’s first gold since 2010 and their 13th overall.
After the medals were awarded, Pastrnak said, “We did it at home. We’ve been waiting for gold for a very long time and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s always a big thank you to the fans. They did amazing for weeks, and we were so excited to be able to extend it for them to play for the medal.”
Czechia’s victory, played in front of a record 17,413 fans, featured intense action with no penalties. Pastrnak, who joined the team after the Bruins were eliminated from the NHL playoffs, expressed his excitement about representing his national team. “This is always so special. The IIHF event was at home, and I’ve never played at home. It would be really hard for me to say no. Obviously, when I’m healthy, I will never say no to the national team,” Pastrnak said.
Despite a strong performance from Switzerland’s Leonardo Genoni, who made 41 saves, Switzerland settled for silver. This tournament saw Andres Ambuhl become the oldest player to win a silver medal at the Worlds.
