Since Brad Marchand was traded at the NHL trade deadline, the Bruins have been without a team captain.
According to a recent fan poll by The Athletic, 81.9% of respondents believe Boston should name a new captain for next season. The clear frontrunners are David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, the team’s most skilled and longest-serving players, both of whom wear the alternate captain’s “A” when healthy.
Among the two, fans strongly preferred Pastrnak, who received 71.2% of the vote, compared to McAvoy’s 28.8%.
Despite a disappointing season for the Bruins, Pastrnak remained consistent. He played all 82 games, tallying 43 goals and 63 assists, and stayed productive even after the team was out of playoff contention. In the final 10 games alone, he recorded 9 goals and 13 assists.
“Down the stretch, I thought David was the best player in the NHL,” McAvoy said. “He was amazing.”
McAvoy, who missed the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury suffered during the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off in February, praised Pastrnak’s leadership, particularly after the departures of Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo.
“David really stepped up — not just by example, but vocally, more than usual,” McAvoy noted. “He gave everything he had to this team. It was inspiring to watch. Were the team results there? No, and we all saw that. But the way he carried himself after the trade deadline deserves recognition. He was asked to take on more than he ever has, and he rose to the challenge night after night.”
