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Bruins Announce Disappointing David Pastrnak News Before NHL Training Camp
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The Boston Bruins opened training camp on Wednesday without their leading scorer and best overall player.

General manager Don Sweeney revealed that forward David Pastrnak will miss the opening practices while managing tendinitis.

“David Pastrnak won’t skate for the first couple of days,” Sweeney said. “His last training block, he got a little tendinitis. And we as a group just said, load management at this point in time is what’s the best course of action.”

The 29-year-old winger participated fully in captain’s practices two weeks ago, where he and defenseman Charlie McAvoy led offseason sessions. It's fair to assume Pastrnak suffered an issue from then to the start of camp.

Sweeney said the team does not view the setback as significant and expects Pastrnak to return to practice early next week.

“He's still on the ice but he'll be in full practice next week,” Sweeney said. “So, that's the only surprise we have. Everybody else is fully up and running.”

Pastrnak, entering his 12th NHL season, has been one of the most durable players in the league. He played all 82 games in each of the last three years, topping 100 points in all of them.

The Bruins alternate captain finished last season with 43 goals and 63 assists for 106 total points, doubling the production of Boston’s next-highest (Margan Geekie with 57) point scorer.

While Pastrnak's absence is expected to be short-term, it creates an early opening for new head coach Marco Sturm to evaluate younger players and new additions.

“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.

The Bruins struggled last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. With captain Brad Marchand traded at the deadline and the Bruins deciding against naming a new captain, leadership responsibility is expected to fall on Pastrnak and McAvoy, the two players wearing the "A" for Boston.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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