As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, we will identify key EDGE stats for each team to preview the 2025-26 season. Today, we look at the impact of three advanced metrics for the Boston Bruins:
1. Pastrnak’s robust advanced metrics
Forward David Pastrnak scored 40-plus goals for the fifth time and reached 100-plus points for the third time in his career last season. Pastrnak leads the NHL in both goals (151) and shots on goal (1,108) over the past three seasons and is the only player in the League with more than 100 even-strength goals in that span (112).
Pastrnak, who had the NHL’s second-longest point streak last season (17 games), behind Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers (18), ranked in the 90th percentile or higher among forwards in the following advanced metrics categories:
• Top shot speed: 98.03 miles per hour (98th percentile; ninth among forwards)
• Total skating distance: 265.02 miles (98th percentile)
• High-danger shots on goal: 69 (93rd percentile)
• High-danger goals: 20 (97th percentile)
• Midrange shots on goal: 108 (99th percentile; seventh among forwards)
• Midrange goals: 13 (96th percentile)
• Long-range shots on goal: 59 (99th percentile; led forwards)
• Long-range goals: 3 (98th percentile; tied for fifth among forwards)
• Offensive zone time percentage: 45.7 (90th percentile)
2. Shot speed by forwards
The Bruins had two players among the forward leaders in 90-plus mph shot attempts last season: Pastrnak (13; tied for fourth) and frequent linemate Morgan Geekie (10; tied for sixth). Each player’s ability to shoot the puck with velocity led to Boston forwards combining to score 11 long-range goals last season, third most in the League, behind only the Washington Capitals (15) and Philadelphia Flyers (14). Accounting for five of those long-range goals were Pastrnak (three; tied for fifth at the position) and Geekie (two; 93rd percentile).
Boston acquired Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers on July 1. The 32-year-old, a five-time 20-goal scorer, was also among the forward leaders in top shot speed (98.96 mph; tied for fifth), 90-plus mph shots (eight; tied for eighth), long-range goals (two; 93rd percentile) and long-range shots on goal (18; 87th percentile).
Also ranking highly among forwards in average shot speed last season were Geekie (63.34 mph; 91st percentile), Pastrnak (62.33 mph; 88th percentile) and Arvidsson (60.11 mph; 80th percentile).
