The Bruins don’t need their next captain to be another Patrice Bergeron or Zdeno Chara.
At least, that’s how head coach Marco Sturm sees it.
With Boston still without a captain weeks before their first preseason game, Sturm offered his perspective on what makes an effective leader and why the Bruins shouldn’t feel obligated to recreate the type of captaincy that defined previous eras of the franchise.
Speaking with Evan Marinofsky on the “Bruins Beat” podcast, Sturm pointed specifically to 12-year veteran David Pastrnak as an example of how leadership can look different from what Bruins fans have become accustomed to.
“One of the problems and issues we have here in Boston is that we had a guy like Bergeron, that we had a guy like Chara, or even Ray Bourque,” Sturm said. “We had such good, high-quality captains here. So everyone thinks automatically, ‘Oh, we need a guy like him.’
“But that’s different. Those guys are gone. It’s a new generation; they’re different now.”
Found this really interesting from Marco Sturm on what he wants in a captain.
Mentioned David Pastrnak by name:
“David is a totally different leader than Bergeron or Chara, which is absolutely fine.” pic.twitter.com/1titwCegdy
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) August 27, 2026
Sturm then used Pastrnak as an example of the changing nature of leadership in the NHL.
“If you look at our guys now, I think David, he’s a totally different leader as a Bergeron or Chara. Totally different. Which is absolutely fine,” Sturm said. “I played with a guy like [Alex] Ovechkin. He’s like that. He’s totally different. [That] doesn’t mean he’s a bad leader; he just does things differently.”
That could be particularly relevant if the Bruins ultimately decide Pastrnak is the player best suited to adorn the “C.”
Charlie McAvoy, entering his 10th season, and Pastrnak are the two longest-tenured players in Boston’s locker room. They have formed the foundation of the Bruins’ leadership group since Brad Marchand was traded to the Panthers in March 2025. Boston played the entirety of last season without a captain, relying instead on a group of veteran leaders.
Sturm values having a captain, but he also believes Boston already has the leadership necessary to succeed regardless of which player receives the designation.
“I do believe we have good leaders in our locker room,” Sturm said on the podcast. “For me, personally, as a coach, he needs a strong voice in the room, obviously, but also who helps me out. He should be the connection between coaches and also for the players in a lot of different areas of the game, on ice, off ice, you name it. Also, he can stay very calm during stressful moments.”
Sturm isn’t necessarily concerned about the possibility that Boston could enter another season without a captain. The Bruins went without one last season and still managed to rebound from their disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
If Boston does decide to stitch a “C” on someone’s jersey this fall, Sturm’s comments suggest the organization doesn’t need to find the next Bergeron or Chara. It could simply need to find the next version of leadership for this Bruins team, and Pastrnak may fit that mold.
“I like to have a captain,” Sturm said. “I don’t know if it’s going to happen now or later, whatever it is, but it’s definitely something I think as a coach you always rely on a guy like that.”
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