By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
It is hard to put an exact value on Brad Marchand’s 16-year tenure as a Boston Bruin. His stats are undoubtedly impressive. In 1,090 regular season games dawning the Spoked-B, the feisty, under-sized winger put up 422 goals and 554 assists, missing the coveted 1,000-point plateau by 24.
He leaves Boston as the fourth most prolific goal scorer in franchise history and sits sixth on the Black and Gold’s all-time assist ranking. He also holds the record for most shorthanded goals, 36, and overtime tallies, 21 scored by a Bruin. And those are just his regular-season accolades.
In 157 playoff games, Marchand potted 56 goals, which is the most in Bruins history. And his 138 postseason points trail only the 161 amassed by someone named Ray Bourque.
However, as is often the case with professional athletes, the statistics do not tell the entire story. There is much more to Marchand’s time in Boston than what appears on Hockey Reference.
The Bruins took the pugnacious winger in the third round of the NHL’s 2006 draft. His determination and energy were evident from the get-go. But what was not so obvious was if the five-foot-nine skater could consistently be productive while taking the punishment of the grueling NHL schedule.
As a rookie during the 2010 season, Marchand managed a lone assist and zero goals in 20 games. But the following season, the winger found his calling card on a loaded Bruins team with Stanley Cup aspirations. He would prioritize getting under the opponent’s skin while working on his scoring touch and offensive repertoire. He collected his first 20-goal campaign and had his coming out party that spring, getting a taste of postseason hockey.
While he was a vital cog in each of Boston’s first three playoff series, he made his most indelible mark against the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals. A few plays he pulled off will forever be a part of Boston sports lore. No Bruins fan will forget him out-muscling Ryan Kesler, then beating Roberto Luongo in game three, punching Daniel Sedin multiple times in game six, and his scintillating three-point performance in Vancouver during game seven to help bring The Cup back to Boston for the first time since 1972.
Even with his early career success, Marchand could still take his game to the next level. He scored over 30 goals for the first time in 2016 and did not look back. Skating primarily with David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron made Marchand even more dynamic.
He became an elite finisher and playmaker while never conceding the edge that got him into the league in the first place. His best season was undoubtedly 2019 when Marchand hit the elusive 100-point threshold.
He became an all-around threat. He was terrific when the Bruins skated at even strength, whether battling for the puck along the wall or finishing a chance in the slot. He was excellent on the power play, with his patented wrist shot and crafty passing ability. And he was deadly on the penalty kill, as nobody was better at creating offense when down a man.
Marchand was beloved and embraced by the city because Boston fans always gravitate toward hard-working athletes with a propensity for tenacity. There is a long lineage of fan favorites who New England adored because of their skill set and their compete level. Brad Marchand perfectly exemplified what it means to be a Boston athlete.
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