Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand divorce possibly in the works
Are Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand breaking up? The two Boston Bruins have been a long-time pair despite the ever-changing lines for the Bruins, but their years together came to an end over the weekend when Bruins coach Claude Julien separated the duo in order to help strengthen the possession time of other lines. Marchand was demoted to the third line as a result of the change.
Julien also said splitting up Bergeron and Marchand can give Marchand more of an opportunity to be a leader on the team.
"No matter what’s being said out there about [Marchand], my main reasoning behind that was that he wants to be a leader," Julien told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. "When you put him with a guy like [Ryan] Spooner, who’s a young centerman, and [Jimmy] Hayes, who’s in his first year, it gives him that opportunity. It’s easy not to have to do it too much when you’re right next to Bergy. I thought he responded well and I thought he played a real good game and helped that line be a real good line."
It is impossible to tell whether breaking up Bergeron and Marchand will last, as coaches have to roll with whatever combination gives their team the best chemistry. But the possibly temporary divorce does give the Bruins a good look at what a different combination can do for the team, and perhaps it will pay dividends on the scoresheet.
(h/t WEEI)
