This year’s tournament will begin May 9 in Denmark, then move to Sweden (Stockholm) for the later rounds, including the championship game (May 25).
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David Pastrnak, who finished 2024-25 as only the third Bruin ever to reach the 100-point plateau in three consecutive seasons, is uncertain if he’ll join Team Czechia for the upcoming IIHF World Championship.
“Maybe. Haven’t decided,” Pastrnak said before Tuesday night’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Devils. “Still thinking about it.”
This year’s tournament will begin May 9 in Denmark, then move to Sweden (Stockholm) for the later rounds, including the championship game (May 25).
Pastrnak, who had a goal and an assist Tuesday night to finish the season with 43 goals and 63 assists, and Bruins teammate
Pavel Zacha packed up quickly after last spring’s Round 2 loss to the Panthers, joined the tournament in progress and helped the Czechs capture the gold medal.
A handful of other Bruins, including USA flag wavers
Jeremy Swayman and
Charlie McAvoy, would be logical fits for the Worlds. McAvoy only recently returned to full on-ice workouts with the Bruins after being sidelined with a shoulder injury and infection during February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
Swedes
Elias Lindholm and
Hampus Lindholm also likely will receive invites to the Worlds, though Hampus has not been seen skating for weeks. The talented defenseman sustained what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury Nov. 12 in St. Louis.
Interim coach
Joe Sacco on Tuesday morning said he did not know how many of his players would be headed overseas for the tournament.
“I don’t have a read on that just yet,” noted Sacco. “I don’t know who’s going, who’s not. I’m sure we’ll find out in the next few days.”
“I think any time you’re asked, No. 1, the opportunity to represent your country is always, I think, important,” he said. “I think it’s an opportunity for guys to extend their season. If you think about it, we finish here [Tuesday night], the puck drop for our next regular-season game is about six months away. So if guys are fortunate enough to get the invite, and they are feeling healthy and good enough to go, they should go and continue to work on their game.”
Wrapping it up
Players will clean out their lockers and have exit interviews with coaching staff and management on Thursday morning in Brighton. It’s typically then that they will make public their plans regarding play in the Worlds.
Management’s farewell media session has been tentatively scheduled for April 23 at TD Garden.
Charlie Jacobs will headline the cast, speaking for ownership, joined by team president
Cam Neely and general manager
Don Sweeney.
Jacobs is expected to maintain status quo in the front office, despite the franchise failing to advance beyond Round 2 of the playoffs since 2019. This is the first spring since 2016 that the Bruins logged a postseason DNQ.