We’re in October now and that means the regular season is just around the corner. Come Thursday, the Boston Bruins, just a few months removed from their bitter Game 7 loss against the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final, will drop the puck on their 2019-20 campaign in Dallas.
Tuesday marked the team’s annual Media Day at Warrior Ice Arena. Boston’s upper brass consisting of Chairman Jeremy Jacobs, CEO Charlie Jacobs, President Cam Neely, general manager Don Sweeney and head coach Bruce Cassidy kicked off the festivities with their season-opening press conference.
“I think that this is a very professionally run organization,” Jacobs said. “You think Cam [Neely], you think Butch [Cassidy], and you think all of them are professionals with background history in this game, and I think that’s the respect you see with the players and the organization and why they like working with them. They know they’ve got somebody that understands what they’re doing and rewards for them when they need to be rewarded, and it goes the opposite direction when they don’t. So, I’m very proud of it.”
Afterward, Bruins Daily sat down with Bruins star forward David Pastrnak following the press conference. The talented Czech playmaker discussed a wide variety of topics from his season expectations to his recent social media moment.
Q: Last year you said you wanted to reach 50 goals and you were on pace until you got hurt. Is that still your goal heading into this season?
“Not really for goals, I don’t really set myself for any goals but obviously I want to reach that mark. But I am not putting pressure on myself. I am just trying to be a better player than I was last year, every year and that’s my biggest focus.”
Q: What was the biggest thing you worked during this short off-season?
“Probably just get a little bit faster and stronger and all of these details. There are 1000 things you can get better at. Last couple of years I have had an off-ice program that’s worked so I haven’t changed anything. Just kind of did the same things that I have done the years before.”
Q: How would you describe the chemistry between Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and yourself?
“I mean it’s expectable. We’ve been together for a while now so it makes sense that we know about each other. We talk a lot, we watch a lot of videos so that’s a big part of why we know each other.”
Q: Do you do anything off the ice, in particular, to build and develop that chemistry?
“We talk a lot and we watch videos. During the season we watch our games and see what’s open there. They are obviously two experienced guys and obviously they always have good points, so we are open to talk to each other every day.”
Q: Coming off of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup, how much does that motivate you heading into this season?
“Yeah, I mean that’s obviously big motivation but now we are at the beginning again. It’s a long season. The first step and our goal is to make the playoffs. It starts with Thursday so we are going to have to take it step by step but again claim yourself to the position that you are going to have the opportunity to get to the playoffs.”
Q: On his recent surge on social media with his teammates’ kids…
“Yeah obviously Krejci and Chara’s kids they speak the same language like us so makes sense ya know. And Torey’s is a new born so those are my close friends and they have beautiful babies and obviously family is a big thing in your life.”
Q: Do you have open communication with some of the prospects that just got sent down to Providence?
“You know I’ve been in their situation. They are open to come to talk to me anytime and I know when I got sent down I was a little bit sad, but as soon as i got there you just have to put your head down and keep working hard. You never know when you are going to get that call.”
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