Boston Bruins Should Give The 'A' Back To Marchand
After Thursday night’s outstanding five point performance, the Boston Bruins should seriously reconsider giving the ‘A’ back to forward Brad Marchand.
The Boston Bruins came from behind on Thursday to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3. The Bruins put together a solid second-half performance to erase an early two goal deficit in the win. Key to the Bruins win last night was the five point performance of Bruins forward Brad Marchand.
“Yeah, it was a good way to start the year,” Marchand offered Marchand postgame. “I think the big thing about tonight that we have to take away is the character we showed.”
“It’s a lot of fun when you come back from a two-goal deficit and win and you show that character, especially with a lot of new faces, and young guys and a couple injuries – it speaks a lot about our team.”
The last time a Boston Bruins player had a five point season opener was 1973. That player was Phil Esposito. It certainly puts Brad Marchand in good company. Marchand played his first season opener since 2010-11 (the year he started in the NHL) without center Patrice Bergeron. Marchand took the ice like a duck to water and helped lead the team to their first win of the season.
David Backes is a respected veteran in the NHL. He spent the last five seasons as the captain of the St.Louis Blues. He had nothing but praise last night for Boston’s Little Ball of Hate.
“He’s silky smooth 1-on-1,” said Backes of Marchand. “He makes the little plays, he communicates out there and when you communicate to him, he’s making the right play going forward and he’s a special player. I know Bergy and him have something special.”
The Boston Bruins made it a point to re-sign Marchand in the offseason. Marchand’s eight year deal means the B’s have locked him up for the remainder of his NHL career.
Bruins bench boss Claude Julien has been there since day one. As Marchand’s coach, he has been there for every high and low. He of all people has seen Marchy’s progression and talked about his evolution after the game.
“He’s played against the best hockey players in the world and he did well there, so there’s no doubt he gains confidence from that,” said Julien. “But I also really like the way he respects the game, and respects the game means he’s making the smart plays at the right time; he’s not making some bad plays and turning pucks over and we’ve seen that in the past.”
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“I think there’s a huge respect for the game and those areas and it’s made a big difference for him, as far as having success and bringing us to the next level.”
“He’s been like that since the World Cup – he’s come back and I think there’s a humongous respect for all aspects of the game right now,” said Julien. “He wants to be recognized as a good player and we know that if you’re just a one dimensional player, you get known to be a one dimensional player, so he wants to be known as a good all-around player.”
“And he’s putting the time in and he’s making the effort and making the decisions to become one of those [players].”
The 28-year old Marchand has turned the corner on his career. Once known as an obnoxious agitator who could score, he’s developed into a team leader and one of the best forwards in the NHL. He’s rapidly closing on his 300th career point. Perhaps it is time the B’s rewarded Marchand by putting the ‘A’ back on his jersey.
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