Strong words from Brad Marchand about one of his Boston Bruins teammates, putting him among the NHL players who should win the MVP award despite the team not having a great season.

Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden on January 02, 2025 in New York City. © Getty ImagesBrad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden on January 02, 2025 in New York City.

When Brad Marchand speaks, his words often carry weight within the Boston Bruins organization. This time, however, his latest remarks have drawn attention for an unexpected reason—his strong endorsement of a teammate for the NHL MVP race. While Marchand praised his fellow Bruin, the team’s overall performance makes such recognition unlikely.

Following Boston’s loss to the Islanders, Marchand took the opportunity to highlight David Pastrnak’s impact on the team. “He should be very high in the MVP candidate race,” Marchand stated, emphasizing Pastrnak’s importance to the Bruins throughout the current NHL season.

Marchand didn’t stop at calling Pastrnak a top MVP candidate—he also acknowledged his leadership. “He’s leading the charge right now,” he said, recognizing Pastrnak’s impressive season, which includes 31 goals and 73 points in 60 games.

Notably, Marchand has also played 60 NHL games this season but trails Pastrnak by 10 goals. The Bruins captain acknowledged his teammate’s elite level of play, adding, “He’s rising to another level right now where he’s one of the best in the league.”

David Pastrnak celebrating

David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins

Pastrnak is a leader in multiple categories

David Pastrnak is leading the Boston Bruins in the 2024-25 NHL season in three major categories: points, goals, and assists. With 73 points, 31 goals, and 42 assists over 60 games, Pastrnak stands out significantly compared to his teammates.

Ranking all 32 NHL teams by social media popularity: Who has the most followers?

Ranking all 32 NHL teams by social media popularity: Who has the most followers?

His performance is particularly impressive given that other players with the same number of games, such as Brad Marchand and Pavel Zacha, have 47 and 35 points respectively, highlighting Pastrnak’s exceptional contribution to the team.

Has Pastrnak ever won the NHL MVP Award?

No, Pastrnak has never won the NHL MVP Award, also known as the Hart Memorial Trophy, but he came close to winning one. In the 2022-23 season, he finished in second place behind Connor McDavid. On the other hand, he does have a Most Valuable Player award that he won during the 2020 All-Star Game.