Brad Marchand, the left winger for the Boston Bruins, has transformed himself from a bottom-six troublemaker to one of the most consistent producers in the NHL. For example, from 2016-17 through 2021-22, Marchand played in 420 games and had an impressive 1.20 points-per-game. Moreover, his journey to reaching the elite level in the NHL was unconventional, to say the least. For a long time, the story was that Marchand’s success was solely due to playing alongside Bruin legend Patrice Bergeron. While it’s true that playing with Bergeron has its perks, the idea that Marchand couldn’t shine on his own has been proven wrong.
The Boston Bruins Brad Marchand’s Journey
The Early Years and NHL Debut
Marchand was chosen by the Bruins in the third round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. His scouting report described him as a small but skilled grinder. Marchand himself spoke about his playing style in the same way.
Marchand had a standout season with the Val d’Or Foreurs in 2006-07, scoring 80 points in 57 games. He was later traded to his hometown team, the Halifax Mooseheads, and totaled 73 points in 59 regular season games. Regardless of his success, Marchand’s season ended on a sour note. Despite leading the team in playoff points, he was benched for the crucial fourth game of the QMJHL semifinal. Although he had only recorded one assist in the first three games of the series, there were rumours within the Bruins organization that his attitude was to blame.
Marchand’s time in the AHL didn’t exactly scream future star potential. Despite a solid 18 goals and 41 assists in his 79-game debut season in 2008-09, his performance fell short of what a top-six winger would typically achieve in the league. He started the 2009-10 season on fire. Marchand scored six goals in his first six games and earned himself a call-up to the NHL. While he notched his first career point in his Boston debut, he struggled to make an impact in the following games and was eventually sent back down to the AHL.
After spending 28 games in Providence and scoring just seven goals, a brief hot streak of 16 points in 14 games earned him another shot in the NHL. However, Marchand failed to capitalize on the opportunity, playing only eight more games and registering just a single assist. His lacklustre performance continued in the playoffs, where he failed to crack the lineup.
The Bruins Brad Marchand Breakout Year and the 2011 Stanley Cup
Despite facing challenges in his two short stints with the team, Marchand managed to secure a place in the opening night lineup the following season. The Bruins assigned him to their energy line. He teamed up with Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton, both known for their gritty, all-out style of play. Marchand found his groove playing alongside them.
Claude Julien was thoroughly impressed by Marchand’s performance, prompting him to promote the young winger to a top-six role. Teaming up with Bergeron and Hall of Famer Mark Recchi proved to be a game-changer for him, allowing him to display his scoring prowess like never before.
Marchand’s regular season performance was promising, but his post-season play was truly eye-opening. Throughout 25 games, he netted 11 goals and contributed eight assists, with seven of them being primary assists. From being a reliable but secondary player in the regular season, he transformed into a crucial goal scorer during the playoffs. He ended the Cup run as the second-highest goal scorer, trailing only the red-hot David Krejci, and ranked third in points behind Bergeron and Krejci.
During a thrilling Stanley Cup Final showdown with the Vancouver Canucks, Marchand tallied five goals and two assists. His impressive performance contributed to all of the Bruins’ victories, with standout moments including his two goals and one assist in the crucial Game 7 in Vancouver.
Marchand Continued to Improve
Prior to the 2016-17 season, the perception that he was just a goal-scorer and not a skilled playmaker kept him from being on the top power play unit for several seasons. From his rookie year until 2015-16, he was low on the Bruins power play’s radar. However, in his second breakout season, he had the third-highest power play ice time among Bruins players. As a result, he did a nice job as he increased his career-high in power play goals from six to nine.
In the 2018-19 season, Marchand showed significant improvement, scoring 36 goals and achieving a career-high of 100 points in 79 games. His shooting percentage returned to his career average, hitting 15.6% on 430 shots. He also set a new career-high in assists with 64 that season. During the post-season, Marchand scored nine goals and 23 points in 24 games. Furthermore, in the 2019-20 season, Marchand has already scored 28 goals and 87 points in 70 games, solidifying his position as one of the best all-around players in the NHL. If projected for a full 82-game season, Marchand is on track to score around 33 goals and a career-high 69 assists, which would have totaled a career-high, 102 points.
Love him or hate him, no one could have predicted that a third-round pick with a modest prospect background would evolve into one of the top left wingers in the game. It’s his attitude and unwavering determination that brought him to where he is today. Marchand meticulously developed his game step-by-step, ultimately becoming one of the most formidable players in the NHL.
Becoming a Captain and What does the Future Hold
Last season, Brad Marchand took over as Bruins captain following the retirement of former captain Patrice Bergeron. Marchand managed to participate in all 82 games last season. This marked only the second time in his career that he achieved this feat. Despite the relatively healthy 2023-24 season for the Bruins, Marchand consistently showed up to provide support for his team and lead by example. Marchand remains an outstanding player, effortlessly excelling without requiring any special favours. However, it is crucial for both him and the Bruins to acknowledge the effects of time and aging, and strategize on how to maximize his performance in both the immediate and distant future.
Main photo credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
