BOSTON — Morgan Geekie is a right-shot forward. So is David Pastrnak.
That is where the similarities conclude.
Geekie acknowledges that when it comes to skill, processing power and game-breaking ability, his toolbox is not as fully equipped as Pastrnak’s. The latter was sixth in NHL scoring as of Saturday with 82 points.
But one reason the second-year Boston Bruin has a career-high 22 goals is the partnership he’s developed with Pastrnak. Geekie has incorporated some of Pastrnak’s viewpoints into his game, partly because both are right shots.
“The seams are the same,” said Geekie. “I can see seams the same as a righty.”
The 2024-25 season is just about over. The Bruins were outshot 20-0 in the second period of Saturday’s 6-2 humiliation against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning led the Bruins in attempts, 89-32.
Final. pic.twitter.com/Rx3d6aXLUA
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 16, 2025
The two post-deadline wins are long gone. Back-to-back duds against the Lightning and Ottawa Senators underscore how few varsity players are on the roster.
“Tonight, it was unacceptable,” Elias Lindholm said. “We deserved to get booed. The second period was the worst I’ve seen us play this year.”
Management’s job is to identify players who can turn things around in 2025-26. Geekie could be one of them.
Geekie’s shot has grown to the point where the threat of a puck on net creates opportunities for Pastrnak. During the Bruins’ 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on March 6, Geekie planned on shooting on Pyotr Kochetkov. But he spotted a seam for Pastrnak. Kochetkov stopped Pastrnak. But Geekie might not have identified the opportunity before this season.
“He does such a good job of not telegraphing the pass,” Geekie said of Pastrnak. “Sometimes I don’t know it’s coming. So I’m trying to add that to my game, a little bit of deception, and draw the goalie over to give him enough room. I don’t think that’s a pass I make three months ago. But it’s just seeing those things. When he makes them, you know it’s there, because I’m on the receiving end of things.”
Don Sweeney concluded that Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, Justin Brazeau and Trent Frederic were not part of the solution. The general manager felt the opposite about the 26-year-old Geekie. The pending restricted free agent projects to be part of the secondary tier, alongside linemate Pavel Zacha, under Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman.
Sweeney’s next move will be to re-sign Geekie. The forward’s two-year, $4 million contract is expiring. He will have arbitration rights. Geekie’s production would serve him well in a hearing.
“He’s identified this is the place he wants to play,” Sweeney said. “We’ve got work to do to find a contract. That’s what he’ll do. I believe we’ll get one done.”
Geekie has done well to score his 22 goals, especially considering how he spun his tires at the beginning of 2024-25. Ex-coach Jim Montgomery made him a healthy scratch five times in the first 16 games. He had zero goals and two assists during this stretch.
But before his dismissal, Montgomery put Geekie at No. 1 left wing next to Zacha and Pastrnak. Interim coach Joe Sacco has kept him there. Both coaches have liked Geekie’s willingness to work the front of the net. Not only has that created opportunities for Pastrnak and Zacha, it has given Geekie the confidence to look for his own chances. He has a good shot, heavy and accurate.
“I think it’s one of my strengths,” Geekie said. “As good as we are as a line, some of us have to be selfish at times and shoot the puck. That opens up space for the other two.”
Geekie’s shot has progressed to the point where Sacco endorsed the move to put him in Pastrnak’s former left-elbow spot on the No. 1 power-play unit. Part of this was because penalty kills had just about eliminated Pastrnak’s one-timer because it was the Bruins’ primary — and only, to be accurate — scoring threat. Geekie’s one-timer is not as good as Pastrnak’s. But his willingness to blast away has given Pastrnak freedom to work his strong side.
“He’s earned the opportunity to be there right now,” Sacco said of Geekie’s top-line ride. “He’s scoring. He’s creating offense. His offensive game is good. He sees the offensive side of the game well.”
Sweeney has work to do to fill in the roster. Geekie is part of that plan.
The question is whether Geekie can take another step to become an even bigger offensive threat. The 6-foot-3, 208-pounder has the size and courage to be a close-range presence similar to the Edmonton Oilers’ Zach Hyman.
“It just builds a level of confidence in yourself and in your game,” Sacco said. “If you do the right things and prepare in the right way, you will get rewarded. We still have 15 games to go here. He’s got to make sure he keeps his foot down on the gas.”
If Geekie finds the next level, he could approach 30 goals in 2025-26. The Bruins need it.
“He’s earned more opportunity,” Sweeney said. “He’s riding shotgun on a very productive line. He’s taken advantage of it. Great on him. Can he continue to expand his game and be one of the building blocks and core pieces moving forward? That’s what we’re going to try and find out this summer in contract stuff.”
(Photo: Eric Canha / Imagn Images)
