Pastrňák scored over 100 points in the National Hockey League this year, becoming the first and only Czech player in history to do so in 3 consecutive seasons. The forward wasn’t there to collect the trophy for his record-breaking performance in person, instead leaving a message to the crowd at the ceremony in Prague:
“I’m sorry that I can’t be there with you tonight and celebrate properly. I hope that you are having a good time and please take it easy on my mum on the podium.”
Pastrňák’s mother, Marcela Ziembová, received the towering trophy on the night, for her son whom she saw leave home at 15 to pursue his professional dream. She also had a word to say about his achievement:
“I feel great, I’m really happy for him. He’s truly a hard-worker, so I think he deserves it, but it doesn’t feel like it’s already the 8th time.”
The individual accolade comes in an otherwise anticlimactic team season. Despite Pastrňák’s heroics, the Boston Bruins failed to qualify for the NHL play-offs for the first time since 2016. Similarly in the World Championships, the Czech national team returned without a medal, having won gold on home soil last year.
Czech hockey players won gold at the 2024 World Cup at home|Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, Czech Radio
Pastrňák’s remarkable performances did not go unnoticed with his teammates either. Former Nashville NHL draft-pick Jáchym Kondelík, who was part of last year’s golden Czechia squad, sang his colleague’s praises:
“What can I say, not many players can do what he does. He makes the game look so easy, to the point where viewers might think they could do it too, but it’s extremely hard to replicate.”
Fellow Czech stars, Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Nečas and national team captain Roman Červenka completed the top 3 at the Golden Hockey Stick.
With his 8th title, “Pasta”, as he is commonly known, is only 4 titles short of ice-hockey legend Jaromír Jágr – the only player in history besides Wayne Gretzky to record over 1,900 career NHL points. Patrik Eliáš is the only other Czech player that trumps Pastrňák in that statistic.
More Czech players will join the NHL ranks tonight, as the annual entry-level draft gets underway in Los Angeles. Radim Mrtka is Czechia’s top prospect, projected to be drafted in the top-10. An encouraging forecast for the young defenseman, as David Pastrňák was only drafted 25th overall in 2014.
The forward is currently enjoying the off-season with his family, Swedish wife Rebecca Rohlsson and daughter Freya. David Pastrňák and his Boston Bruins will be back in action for the NHL pre-season with a home game against the Washington Capitals on September 21st.