Marchand leads way
Feisty winger does it all
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — There are some things that will never change about Brad Marchand.
Marchand will forever top the list of most hated players by every other team in the NHL and their fan bases. It’s a good bet he’ll occasionally do some things that make members of his own fan base scratch their heads and scream at the TV, too.
But while Marchand remains his ever-agitating self, there’s no denying he is bringing a little something more this year. A leader is usually not the type of player that finds himself in trouble with the league as often Marchand has in his career, but he indeed has developed into one of the core leaders on this impressive Bruins team.
Usually he leads through his never-quit approach to every shift he takes. But in the B’s incredible 6-4 comeback victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, Marchand also gave a quick verbal pick-me-up on the bench that his teammates and coach believe helped spur them on to the improbable victory.
“If it comes from him, it’s going to give you a ton of motivation. He’s one of the best players in he league and anything he says, we’re going to follow in his footsteps,” said defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who scored the first goal in the B’s fivegoal third period.
Bruce Cassidy coached Marchand since he became a pro in 2008-09 and, despite some of the baggage, he appreciates everything he brings.
“There’s a lot of energy there and a lot of emotion in his game. Most of it is good. The odd time, not so good, but I love coaching Brad,” said Cassidy. “He brings it every night. At the end of the day he’s a very, very good player in this league and for us we rely on him every night. He’s bringing it and building that part of his game and, from month to month, he’s doing a little more.”
Cassidy watched Marchand grow into a leader while also learning how to combat the attention he brings upon himself.
“We see a guy who’s out there leading by example. He’s always had the work ethic. Now he’s doing it the right way,” said Cassidy. “He’s a marked man. Even (Tuesday night), the official was kind of chirping at him and I was like ‘Just leave him alone and let him play. If you want to whistle him for a penalty then put him in the box.’ It’s almost like he’s got this buzz around him, too, where he can’t get away from it even on the nights he wants to.
“But that’s what it is for Brad and he seems to relish it, so good for him.”
Against Carolina, savvy Hurricanes veteran Justin Williams seemed intent on getting under Marchand’s skin but the Bruins gave it back without going over the line. It didn’t hurt that captain Zdeno Chara gave Williams and Trevor van Riemsdyk a rather chilling look at the start of the second period.
To Marchand, that kind of in-game grappling is no big deal.
“That’s part of the game. It’s going to happen every night and you just have to fight through it,” he said. “Every team is fighting for playoff spots right now and everyone’s playing hard all night long. So you just have to expect that from every guy you’re lined up against. It’s a battle out there. It’s a competition that we all want to win. It’s part of the game.”
But you sense a certain pride in Marchand as he continues to establish his leadership bona fides.
“I think it comes with the territory a bit. You learn from great guys through the years,” said Marchand. “(Patrice Bergeron) is such a big voice and when he’s not in the lineup, everyone has to talk a little bit more. But it’s a role I’ve enjoyed being in and I’ve wanted to be in more over the years. You have to do things like that.”
Marchand has always been deferential to Bergeron and probably always will be, such is the high esteem he holds for his longtime linemate. But if anyone still thinks the left winger is simply riding Bergeron’s coattails, well, Marchand has been lighting a match to that myth lately.
In the five games Bergeron was out to start the season, Marchand posted 3-3-6 totals. In the seven games he’s played since Bergeron’s been out with a broken foot, Marchand has 6-8-14 totals, including a 1-2-3 night in Tuesday’s terrific win.
That is the most effective kind of leadership.