The Boston Bruins franchise made a drastic shift in direction on Friday at the National Hockey League’s Trade Deadline when Bruins general manager Don Sweeney made the decision to sell off several long time Bruins, even moving them to bitter rivals within the Atlantic Division in some cases.

It was a stunning day of trades from the Bruins that left their fan base reeling and in shock, and as you might expect the impact on the members of the Bruins locker room who weren’t dealt was much the same. On Saturday, a shell shocked looking David Pastrnak spoke to members of the media about what was no doubt one of the most difficult days of his tenure with the Boston Bruins

“It’s been very tough, emotional, sad, 12 to 24 hours,” admitted Pastrnak. “I lost personally 3 really close friends and it’s a very tough pill to swallow. We not only lost big leaders in this team but great human beings, guys with families that I was really close to. Been here since day 1 with them, so it was a really tough day yesterday.”

Much to his credit, Pastrnak didn’t complain and made no effort to criticize Bruins management for taking the team in this direction, but instead focused on what was ahead of him and vowed to continue to do his best to represent the logo emblazoned on the front of his jersey.

“You’re still a professional hockey player, you have a job to do, and you have to get the mindset ready and make sure you look forward,” said Pastrnak. “Obviously we got some great addition and we have a lot of hockey left.”

Despite the Bruins front office seemingly throwing in the towel on the season, Pastrnak didn’t appear to have any desire to quit in him and instead had a warning for the rest of the NHL’s Eastern Conference.

“We are here to fight to the end,” said Pastrnak sounding very much like a potential future captain for the Bruins. “We are not gonna go away. We are gonna keep battling until the last game and see where it takes us.”

Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak expressed deep emotions following the team’s recent trades, which included sending longtime teammates Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo to other teams. Pastrnak described the experience as a “very hard pill to swallow,” highlighting the personal loss of close friends and significant leaders within the team.

He reflected on the emotional impact of these departures, noting, “I lost, personally, three really close friends. It’s a very hard pill to swallow.” Pastrnak emphasized the profound effect on the team’s dynamics, acknowledging the departure of not only key players but also individuals who were integral to the team’s camaraderie.

The trades mark a significant shift for the Bruins, signaling the end of an era for the franchise. The organization is now entering a period of transition, focusing on rebuilding and integrating new talent into the roster.

For a more in-depth understanding of Pastrnak’s reaction, you can watch his response to the trades in the following video: