David Pastrnak’s Hart Snub Proves the Media Missed the Mark
When the Boston Bruins walked off the ice in overtime on April 15 after a 5-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils, it mercifully ended one of the franchise’s most frustrating seasons in recent memory. Boston finished dead last in the Atlantic Division and tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
It was a year marked by instability and underachievement. Head coach Jim Montgomery was dismissed in November. Interim coach Joe Sacco didn’t survive the offseason before catching on as an assistant with the New York Rangers. The Bruins were in disarray.
But through all the chaos, one thing remained constant: David Pastrnak showed up—every single night.
A Stellar Season, Ignored
Pastrnak played in all 82 games and posted 43 goals and 63 assists, good for 106 points—all while surrounded by a roster that underdelivered. He ranked ninth in goals league-wide and seventh in assists, a testament to his elite consistency on a team that lacked structure, support, and success.
Yet somehow, Pastrnak finished 11th in Hart Trophy voting—the award given to the NHL’s most valuable player. He received just 24 points in total: one second-place vote, two fourth-place votes, and 11 fifth-place nods.
In contrast, Connor Hellebuyck, the Winnipeg Jets’ goaltender, claimed the Hart. Leon Draisaitl, the league’s top scorer, finished behind him. And Pastrnak? Barely a blip on the voters’ radar.
How Valuable Does a Player Have to Be?
No one’s claiming Pastrnak should have walked away with the Hart. The Bruins’ record likely kept him from truly contending. But to be left outside the Top 10 altogether? That’s hard to justify.
Without Pastrnak’s elite production, Boston could have easily finished as the NHL’s worst team—possibly in position for the No. 1 overall pick. He was not only Boston’s engine but often their only spark.
Yes, the Hart Trophy traditionally leans toward players on playoff-bound teams, but if the award is truly about value to one’s team, then few meant more to theirs than Pastrnak did in Boston.
A Disrespectful Oversight
In a season where the Bruins had little to celebrate, Pastrnak’s brilliance was a lone bright spot. That makes his 11th-place Hart finish not just disappointing but disrespectful.
It’s time the league’s voters start valuing context alongside stats. Because if 106 points on a bottom-feeder team doesn’t scream “most valuable,” what does?