David Pastrňák Bio
David Pastrňák is a Czech professional ice hockey player who is a right winger and alternate captain for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed “Pasta”, Pastrňák was selected by the Bruins in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2014 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut that year. He has played for the Czech Republic national team at both the junior and senior level, including at four World Championships.
Early Life and Background
David Pastrňák was born on 25 May 1996 in Havířov, Czech Republic, to father Milan Pastrňák and mother Marcela Ziembova. He first became interested in hockey through his father, who was a professional player and later a coach. He began skating when he was three years old. Milan left the family and moved to Karviná when Pastrňák was three years old, and after that Pastrňák spent weekends with his father. For most of his childhood, he lived with his mother and older brother in a two-bedroom apartment. When he was 13 years old, Pastrňák got an agent and his hockey equipment was paid for; this reduced the financial stress on his family. At age 15, Pastrňák moved to the nearby town of Třinec, where he lived alone in a hotel room. This was considered a test to ensure that Pastrňák could move to Sweden the next year. During the 2011–12 season, Pastrňák led the Czech under-18 league in goals and points. For the 2012–13 season, Pastrňák moved to Sweden to play for the junior squad of Södertälje SK. While in Södertälje, Pastrňák learned to speak English and Swedish, and started to watch NHL games for the first time. In May 2013, just before Pastrňák’s 17th birthday, Milan died after a years-long battle with skin cancer. Grieving his father’s death, Pastrňák intensified his training.
Path to Hockey
For the 2013–14 season, Pastrňák was promoted to Södertälje SK’s senior team in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second-highest professional league. He led his team in points, scoring 8 goals and 16 assists in 36 games, though he missed part of the season due to a concussion. After being drafted by the Boston Bruins with the 25th pick overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft, Pastrňák signed a three-year, entry-level contract on 15 July 2014. He attended the Bruins’ training camp for the 2014–15 season before being assigned to the Providence Bruins, the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, on 7 October 2014. He made his NHL debut with the Bruins on 24 November, logging 7:53 of ice time in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored the first two goals of his NHL career against Ray Emery on 10 January 2015, resulting in a 3–1 Bruins’ road win over the Philadelphia Flyers. On 29 March, Pastrňák became the youngest Bruins’ player in history to score an overtime, game-winning goal in regular season play.
David Pastrňák Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
During the 2015–16 season, Pastrňák became the youngest Bruins’ player ever to score a penalty shot goal. The 2016–17 season proved to be a breakout year for Pastrňák, who recorded 34 goals and 36 assists for 70 points in 75 contests, leading the Bruins in scoring while playing on the first line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, known as the “Perfection Line”. He scored two goals and four points during the 2017 playoffs. Entering the 2017 off-season, Pastrňák was a restricted free agent and re-signed to a six-year, $40 million contract extension on 14 September 2017.
Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Towards the end of the 2017–18 season, on 13 March 2018, Pastrňák scored his first NHL hat-trick during a 6–4 Bruins’ road win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He also became the youngest player in NHL history to score six points in a single playoff game. In the 2018–19 season, Pastrňák played in his first NHL Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring a goal to help the team win 4–2. He became the all-time leader for most goals in Boston Bruins history before the age of 23. Pastrňák finished the season with 48 goals, tying for most goals in the NHL.
Notable Works and Milestones
Pastrňák’s signature work includes his performance during the 2022–23 season, where he finished with a career-best 61 goals, 52 assists, and 113 points. He was named a finalist for both the Ted Lindsay Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy.
David Pastrňák Award Nominations
Throughout his career, David Pastrňák has received numerous nominations, including for the Ted Lindsay Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the sport.
David Pastrňák Awards Won
David Pastrňák has achieved significant recognition, including winning the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for most goals in the NHL during the 2019–20 season.
David Pastrňák Family
David Pastrňák is married to Rebecca Rohlsson. They have two children, a son named Viggo Rohl Pastrňák, who was born on June 17, 2021, and passed away six days later, and a daughter named Freya Ivy Pastrňák, born on June 8, 2023.
Personal Life
David Pastrňák and Rebecca Rohlsson were married in August 2024 in Croatia. He has faced personal challenges, including the loss of his son, which has shaped his perspective on life and his career.
