It's now official for David Pastrnak and five other Boston Bruins players: Per insider

The IIHF's preliminary list for Milano Cortina already includes David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha among Czechia's first six, which is about as close to a stamp of approval as you get this early. It also tells you exactly where Czechia plans to lean offensively.

Czechia's early group also had Martin Necas and Ondrej Palat up front, plus Radko Gudas on the back end. That mix screams structure, and it makes Pastrnak and Zacha feel like safe bets to headline the attack.

As a Bruins fan, seeing those two names together for Czechia feels like a rare little win during a choppy stretch. Boston's offense still runs through Pastrnak, and Zacha's steady two-way game plays anywhere.

Pastrnak is up to 17 goals and 44 points in 36 games.

Zacha on the other hand sits at 10 goals and 26 points in 40 games. Both are prime-age guys too, Pastrnak is 29 and Zacha is 28, so this isn't a nostalgia pick.

And it's not just Czechia getting Bruins flavor, either, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman made Team USA, while Henri Jokiharju landed on Finland's roster. The Bruins suddenly have a real international footprint.

Elias Lindholm also earned a spot for Sweden, which adds another big name to Boston's Olympic list. If you're the Bruins, you love the honor, but you also start thinking about mileage and midseason rhythm.

For now, though, it's simple, Pastrnak and Zacha are headed for hockey's loudest stage, and they've earned every bit of it.

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