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Meet David Pastrnak, the NHL's latest prolific scorer

Eric Bolte / USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins are getting all they could've hoped for out of the 25th overall pick at the 2014 NHL Draft.

On that day, the Bruins selected Czech winger David Pastrnak, and, looking back, it's all too fitting it was team president Cam Neely who called his name.

Early promise

Pastrnak debuted with the Bruins in late November 2014, and scored 10 goals in 46 games during his rookie season.

He was limited to 51 games in his second season as a result of a cracked foot suffered early on and a World Junior Championship conditioning stint, but still managed 15 goals.

The 25 goals in 97 total appearances work out to an average of 0.257 per game, putting him on pace for 21 through an 82-game regular season.

Decent production for a player drafted at Pastrnak's spot, to be sure.

The breakout

Early on this season, he's taken his game to a whole new level. In fact, only Sidney Crosby has scored with more regularity than Pastrnak.

The two players sit well atop the goals-per-game leaderboard, with only eight others averaging 0.5 or more, according to Sporting Charts.

Player Games Goals G/GP
Sidney Crosby 14 14 1.000
David Pastrnak 15 11 0.733
Rickard Rakell 11 7 0.636
Alex Ovechkin 19 12 0.632
Michael Grabner 21 12 0.571
Marian Hossa 20 11 0.55
Patrik Laine 22 12 0.546
Steven Stamkos 17 9 0.529
Nikita Kucherov 20 10 0.5
Mark Scheifele 22 11 0.5

Pastrnak's latest came Thursday against the Ottawa Senators on a nifty spinning backhand:

Will it last?

Pastrnak's shooting percentage sits at 22.4, well above his career average of 14.1. Logic would dictate he won't keep up this pace over the course of the season, but he does have something working in his favor: the quality of his linemates.

The trio of Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand is quite simply the most effective line in the NHL in terms of puck possession.

In five-on-five play, they're the only three regular NHL forwards to record a Corsi For percentage above 60, meaning they're on the ice for way more shot attempts for than against. So while Pastrnak's success rate may regress, it won't be due to a lack of opportunities, especially since he's firing more actual shots on goal than ever before, with a per-game average of more than three.

He's on pace for 56 goals, and if he reaches 50, he'll be the first Bruins player to do so since 1993-94. The last Boston player to score 50? Cam Neely, who achieved the feat in 44 games.

There's still a lot of hockey to be played, and Pastrnak has already missed time due to injury and suspension. Early in his career, however, it certainly appears he's got the black-and-gold touch unseen in 25 years.

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