Sidelined since February with a shoulder injury, McAvoy said he’d heard that Pastrnak was just as good behind the scenes, too. With Marchand, Coyle, and others gone, the Bruins needed Pastrnak to assume a louder leadership role.

The roster underwent myriad changes throughout the season, and it left the leadership core in tatters. When the dust settled, Pastrnak was left standing.

And for the first time in eight seasons, the Bruins will not go to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This has drawn questions over what the Bruins will do this offseason. Perhaps they make a splash and trade star winger David Pastrnak.