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Bruins Daily report card: No. 63 Brad Marchand
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(Credit S. Babineau/Getty Images) Bruins forward No. 63 Brad Marchand
Throughout the offseason, Bruins Daily will be posting daily report cards on each individual members of the 2011-12 NHL season Boston Bruins.
In order of jersey number, each player will be highlighted. In today’s edition, we have No. 63, forward Brad Marchand.
Name: Brad Marchand
Position: Forward
Shoots: Left
Age: 24
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 183
Contract: RFA in 2013-14
Cap hit: $2.5 mil
2011-12 NHL season stats:
Regular season: 76 GP, 28-27-55, plus-37, 87 PIM, 167 SOG
Post season: 7 GP, 1-1-2, minus-1, 2 PIM, 17 SOG
Chris’ Take:
The fan favorite “Noseface Killah” was second on the team in goals in his sophomore season notching 28 along with 27 assists in 76 games. His plus 31 was fifth in the National Hockey League. Marchand’s scrappiness and quick speed has made him a great wing player for the Bruins.
Marchand set career highs across the board in every offensive category this year notching his second straight 20+ goal season. He recorded a hat trick versus the Florida Panthers in late December that was his career best night also adding two assists in the contest.
This guy is an intricate part in the Bruins’ offense. When Lucic or Krejci were not picking up the slack, it was Marchand who carried the load. He has only been in the league for two years and he is making his presence felt more than ever. He is only 24 years of age and the future is very bright for this young star.
“I don’t even like Marsh-mont. I don’t even know why he made the team.”
Final Grade: A-
Tim’s Turn:
During the first half of the year, many Bruins fans saw Brad Marchand resume his role as the little ball of hate and the results seemed to show after recording his first hat trick of his NHL career against the Florida Panthers. It seemed like the best was yet to come for Marchand, however, it went downhill rather quickly after his 5-game ban for a low hip check on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo during the Stanley Cup rematch back in January.
Marchand did finish second on the team in goals with 28 — one behind team leader Tyler Seguin. But after an impressive postseason during the team’s Cup run in 2011, Marchand followed up with just one goal against the Caps and was pretty much nonexistent in the first round loss.
A lot of Marchand’s struggles were contributed to the suspension as he was clearly did not play with the same edge or intensity when he returned. Hopefully for Bruins fans, Marchand can return to being the little ball of hate, while playing on the edge again in 2012-13.
Grade: B-
Anthony’s Analysis
Marchand is one of those guys that you hate if he’s on another team, but love if he’s on yours, just ask Shawn Thornton that one. Marchand’s sophomore season was a thing of beauty. If it wasn’t for a suspension thanks to his clip of Canucks defensemen Sami Salo, Marchand may have hit the 30 goal mark and finish the year as the Bruins leading goal scorer, an honor that went to Tyler Seguin with 29.
Marchand showed great chemistry with line mates Patrice Bergeron and Seguin, as all three had tremendous years. No. 63 really showed an overall improvement from what was an impressive rookie year. The Nose-face killer is a free agent after this coming season but one should expect the “little ball of hate” to remain a Bruin for a long time thanks to his agitating style, and offensive ability.
Final Grade: A-
Mark’s Grade: B+
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