BOSTON — Before he landed on a line with him, Morgan Geekie was already studying David Pastrnak.
Geekie looked at where his high-scoring Bruins teammate liked the puck and how he set himself up, especially in the offensive zone. It’s wasn’t intentional prep in case this moment ever arrived. It was simply someone who loves hockey watching a superstar just entering his prime.
“You see in his game, his trends, the things he likes to do. I wouldn’t say I read into it too much. Even on the bench, he’s fun to watch. I watch him just as much as you guys do. I’ve kind of picked up on some things he liked to do, the way he likes to play. I’ll keep going,” Geekie said. “We have the best tickets in the house to watch a game. I like to pay attention to guys, how they like to play. Where they like to be and trends in their game.”
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Geekie, who spent most of his career in the middle, has played most of this season as a bottom-six wing. Now he finds himself not only back at center, but on a line with Pastrnak.
Center depth was always going to be a question mark for the 2023-24 Bruins when Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired and the team had limited salary cap space available to sign replacements.
Pavel Zacha has played well in the No. 1 role and Charlie Coyle is on pace to set career highs in goals, assists and points. Rookie Johnny Beecher looks well-suited to be an effective bottom-six pivot. While Matt Poitras has struggled in recent weeks, the 19-year-old has certainly given the Bruins a boost they weren’t expecting when Bergeron and Krejci retired, he isn’t ready to play the minutes or some of the situations required of a top-six center yet.
But Zacha’s injury, which will keep him out of the lineup Wednesday against the Devils leaves, the Bruins without a natural replacement on the top two lines. With Coyle between Brad Marchand and Trent Frederic, Jim Montgomery needed somebody to play with David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk and Geekie got the first shot after Zacha left Saturday’s win.
“He’s a big horse that can occupy the middle of the ice and drive to the net,” Montgomery said. “He wins battles and wins battles against two people because of his strength and his tenacity on pucks. It worked in-game. It’s much easier for guys to do it in-game than when they have two days to prepare. It’s a challenge for everyone. It’s a wonderful opportunity. You’ve got to seize the opportunity. That’s what we’re looking for.”
When the Bruins signed Geekie in the offseason after the Kraken declined to offer him a contract as a restricted free agent, they hoped his production could increase in a larger role. But a role this large was unexpected.
Geekie has two goals and five assists in 20 games so far this season and set up Pastrnak in Saturday’s win over Arizona. He was eager for the chance to build on that.
“It’s awesome. Anytime you get to play with players of their caliber it’s something special,” Geekie said. “I’m just trying to give (Pastrnak) the puck in the puck in the right spot. We all know what he can do with it. Just try to get open, make space for him and make some plays.”
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