Training camp started today for the Boston Bruins in new head coach Marco Sturm’s first year at the helm. However, it did not get off without a hitch as the team announced this afternoon that they would be skating without the team’s best player and leading goal scorer, David Pastrnak,
Tendinitis is the official injury designation from general manager Don Sweeney who didn’t add much elaboration.
“David Pastrnak won’t skate for the first couple of days,” Sweeney said at Wednesday’s press conference. “His last training block, he got a little tendinitis.”
As far as what that looks like for the Boston Bruins, Sweeney added this.
“We as a group just said load management at this point in time is what’s the best course of action,” Bruins’ general manager Don Sweeney said. “He’s on the ice still, but he’ll be at full practice early next week.”
Sweeney went on to say that Pasta “won’t skate for the first couple of days.” Bruins’ writers have pointed out that the last time we saw the B’s on the ice, at a captain’s practice just two weeks ago, he was a full participant.
This will be something to keep an eye on as the nagging nature of such injury could hinder the electrifying winger throughout the entire season if not properly treated.
Sweeney Says Absence Opens Door For Other Players
As far as David Pastrnak is concerned, it’s hard to imagine he needed training camp as badly as some of these other players. The 29-year-old goal scoring machine is coming off his third consecutive 100 point season. Last season the winger was one of just three Bruins to appear in all 82 games as the team missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.
His absence, in fact, may be a good thing for first year head coach Marco Sturm. Here’s how Sweeney spun it.
“Good opportunity for Marco to put a couple of other guys in the cat bird’s seat that they would be excited to have,” Sweeney said.
Head coach Marco Sturm seems to share his optimism as he told reporters he was looking forward to seeing which of his young skaters would step up.
“Usually there’s always one surprise in training camp. And hopefully we have at least one or two,” Sturm said. “There will be opportunities, and that’s what I’m all excited about. I worked with all the young kids the last three years, so I want them to have success. And I’m going to do everything I can to put them in a good spot.”
David Pastrnak Doesn’t Usually Come To Training Camp
For Pasta, it is clear last season left a bad taste. The All-World talent doesn’t usually concern himself with September hockey.
“Never used to be here this early,” Pastrnak told reporters earlier this month. “Something new for me as well.”
Pasta is campaigning to be the lone recipient of the “C” this season. He will be the successor of Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand should he be chosen.
This is an honor he clearly is not taking lightly.
“Sept. 1, I think, everybody’s kind of worried about being 100 percent ready to go for training camp,” Pastrnak said in the same interview. “The season didn’t end the way we wanted it. We all know and are aware that it’s unacceptable for an organization like this. Training camp is going to be hard. We know it. Mentally, as of now, Day 1, you just try to settle in. A bunch of guys traveled from Europe, getting the time change. So it’s very important to make sure you make everybody feel welcome and get ready for the hard work ahead of us.”
As of right now, nobody is expected to wear the C in Boston.
Bruins Start Training Camp With Best Player Injured