Jeremy Swayman is soaking it all in.
As he maneuvers through his first All-Star Weekend, the 25-year-old netminder can’t help but stop to look around.
“It’s been incredible. Everywhere you look there’s been an All-Star,” said Swayman. “So incredible to be in the same room with these guys, some of the best players in the league. Being a part of it is such an honor and I’m really trying to soak everything up.”
Swayman also has his father, Ken, and stepmother, Terese, here to enjoy the experience with him, as well as teammate David Pastrnak and coach Jim Montgomery.
“It is really special to share moments like this with your people,” said Swayman. “I truly feel Pasta, Monty and my dad and Therese are my people. I’m actually even more thrilled to be here because you get to share it with people that have been there every step of the way and understand what it took to get here. It’s just a special feeling to be a part of it.”
The Alaska native, now in his fourth season, is 16-3-7 with a 2.30 goals against average (third in the NHL), .924 save percentage (tied second), and three shutouts (second-most). Swayman went to Team MacKinnon with its eighth pick during the NHL All-Star Draft on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena.
“That was really cool. I knew I was gonna be on an island pretty quick sitting between [Buffalo’s Rasmus] Dahlin and our boy Pasta. I was getting a little chilly. But luckily Cale [Makar] and [Nathan] MacKinnon selected a good college boy,” said Swayman. “That was awesome. Excited to get on the ice with them. I think we’ve got the best jerseys too, so I’m pretty pumped.”
David Pastrnak, meanwhile, is back for his fourth All-Star Weekend, though this time he has his daughter, Freya – who was born in June – alongside. And, of course, she stole the show during her dad’s All-Star press conference on Thursday night.
“It’s amazing. The whole week, first family vacation was awesome,” said Pastrnak. “That was beautiful. [Freya and fiancé Rebecca] were here with me so I said I’m gonna bring Freya up. Seems like she loved the attention. She did pretty good for her first interview. She was rubbing [the] mic the whole time.”
The winger has posted 33 goals and 72 points through 49 games this season, putting him on pace for another 50-goal campaign and a new career high in points – all despite the losses of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the two centerman who have meant so much to Pastrnak’s career.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge, but more this year we knew that every single one of us would have to step up and be even better to somewhat replace those two guys,” said Pastrnak, who was selected by Connor McDavid with his second pick during Thursday’s All-Star Draft. “Overall, our team is doing good which always helps a player when the team is winning.”