Former Bruins Thank you, Brad Marchand
- Thread starter smithformeragent
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Si Hopkins
Registered User
Have to believe the door is wide open for a return.
Also, talk about serious LOVE to Sweeney/Neely/Bruins. I'm pretty done with them personally, but really interesting to hear this level of praise from a player of that stature.
veganbruin
Registered User
nORRis8
The NHL, the stupidest League ever.
Listened to Friedman's podcast.
Him saying "I believe" and "I think" taints the theory of offering his current salary.
Dudes guessing
I'll quote your post and put it in the issues thread since you can't get on it.
Thirty Seven
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2017
- 1,973
- 3,783
Bruin4
Registered User
Boston Bandit
Registered User
- Aug 2, 2005
- 4,680
- 11,354
He needs to comeback and retire a Bruin
It’s the right thing to do
He cannot be replaced
LouJersey
Registered User
EF and Chiclets are only right when they make management look good, haven't you realized this yet?
Mad-Marcus
Registered User
I still believe the conversation included, go win a cup at a destination of your choosing, provided we get a decent return. Then, over the summer, decide if you want to continue playing, give us 1st crack. (Unless he realizes the grass is greener the closer to retirement)
Brad Marchand returns to Boston with Panthers, reaffirming an end to an era - The Boston Globe
The former Bruins forward's return lacked in pomp and circumstance, largely because he was not in the Panthers lineup.
www.bostonglobe.com
Brad Marchand’s No. 63 should be duly hoisted to the Garden’s rafters one night in the future, his tenure of 1,247 games in Black and Gold, his name on the Stanley Cup (2011), and his nearly two years as Bruins captain all among the achievements to be honored and remembered with the franchise’s best.
It was, of course, Marchand’s drive and determination, his utter will to compete, his engine in that 5-foot-something body that just wouldn’t quit, that most set him apart.
In a different era, in a different game, it was also what endeared Terry O’Reilly to Bruins fans, who have had to learn not to measure their favorite stick-lugging sons solely by the number of times their names have been etched onto a big silver mug.
Marchand was defined by his battle, and Bruins fans long have appreciated, or been made to settle for, battle in all its forms.
Abruptly dealt away Friday afternoon after 16 seasons in Boston, Marchand was back here at his old Causeway Street workshop Tuesday night, albeit with his new team, the Florida Panthers. The moment lacked in pomp and circumstance, largely because the injured Marchand was not in the Panthers lineup, but it nonetheless was a chance for the Hub to bid “Marshy” adieu.
“We dropped the ball on that one,” recalled a blunt Marchand, the Bruins falling to the Panthers in Game 7. “That was our year and [management] went all in years leading up to that and that season. And when you look at an opportunity like that, it doesn’t come along very often. And [management] did everything they could to put us in a position to succeed. And ultimately it was on the players. “We didn’t do our jobs and didn’t come through when we had to.”
Marchand’s illustrious tenure with the Bruins came to an end a week ago Saturday in Pittsburgh while chasing down a puck in the corner. He fell awkwardly into the boards, in a collision with Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, and ultimately needed assistance to leave the ice. Good pal David Pastrnak helped to get him on his feet and steer him across the ice. He disappeared down the tunnel at PPG Arena. Boston career finished.
“I just kind of got crunched,” said Marchand, speaking for the first time about the injury. “Everything kind of got hurt.”
He later added he was initially told the recovery period could be as long as six weeks, adding substance to rumors in recent days that he suffered a shoulder injury, akin to the one that has kept Charlie McAvoy sidelined since the 4 Nations Face-Off. He skated in the Panthers’ morning workout, but could not guess how soon he might be ready to play.
Little did we know in that moment that it would be the last look any of us would see of the L’il Ball O’ Hate in that Black and Gold 63. On Friday afternoon, he was dealt away by GM Don Sweeney, part of the biggest one-day dumpster run in team history.
In return, the Bruins will net at least a second-round pick, perhaps a first, for Marchand. They need help. They need draft picks. In recent years, they saw their top talent leave (Zdeno Chara) or retire (Tuukka Rask, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci), all bringing back nothing in return.
That talent drain, in part, led to the roster that this year struggled to find a foothold in the East and led Sweeney to part on deadline day with Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, and Marchand.
“I mean, I think we’re not naive,” said Marchand, reflecting on whether he saw the changes coming. “I think you can kind of see the way things are going. Anytime you don’t achieve what you’re expected to or what you set out to, they’re going to make changes. And I mean ultimately changes come when you’re doing well, too. Whether you’re going to try to add or subtract, changes need to be made. And unfortunately when it’s not going the way you want it to, they’re usually bigger.”
There is the chance that Marchand, on target to be an unrestricted free agent July 1, will be back here in the fall, re-signed to a new deal with the Bruins. He did not rule out the possibility, but mostly he downplayed it, saying his focus now is getting fit again and helping the Panthers. It sounded like he had moved on, to a new city, a new team, a changed state of mind.
“You don’t get to be part of a team like this very often,” he said.
It was something Marchand frequently said here, too, when times were better, when battling for the Cup very much defined the Bruins. His time here didn’t match the era of the Big Bad Bruins from decades ago, but it was entertaining, often exciting. For years, the building was filled to the brim.
Now, once again, it is time to rebuild the Bruins, with worn-out tools and without Marchand as one of the building blocks. Two fans, sitting in front-row seats across the ice from the Panthers bench, wore Marchand’s No. 63 sweater. They were not Black and Gold sweaters, but instead Florida red.
Ready or not, an era has ended, the time has come to move on.
LouJersey
Registered User
Acknowledges they blew it in 19 and 23. Also doesn’t sound like he’s coming back. Cup window closed officially
What Brad Marchand said of potentially returning to Bruins in July - The Boston Globe
The former Bruin is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
www.bostonglobe.com
Brad Marchand was back on the TD Garden ice on Tuesday morning. Only this time, the 36-year-old winger shed the spoked-B for a Panthers logo.
While the former Bruins captain is still weeks away from returning to game action following an upper-body injury, Marchand is starting to ingratiate himself to his new teammates days after Boston dealt him to one of their most-loathed rivals.
“I don’t think I have to change to fit their game,” Marchand said of meshing with Florida during an extended meeting with the media at TD Garden on Tuesday. “I think I’ve played that way for my entire career. They play a competitive, hard style. They play simple, they compete at the highest level and they’re winners.
“They want to win, they sacrifice, they do what it takes. And so I’m really excited to get out there and compete at that level.”
While Marchand is looking to chase another Stanley Cup this spring, he also reflected on his future this summer. The forward is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Could he potentially entertain a return to Boston this summer?
“I mean, I don’t know — I guess, is how I would respond,” Marchand said when asked about permanently closing this chapter of his career in Boston. “I don’t know what the future brings in terms of how it plays out in the summertime. I know it didn’t come together. Now can things change down the road? Potentially, but that’s to be seen. So I am sure we’ll have a conversation down the road, but I don’t know where that goes.
“So I mean obviously I would still — it doesn’t change my love for the city and the will to want to be here has never changed. I don’t think that it will ever change. It’s just whether we can have a meeting of the minds and kind of come together, but it’s to be seen.”
For all of the reported contract strife between the Bruins and Marchand that eventually led to his departure, Marchand spoke highly of Boston’s top brass during his first comments as a Panther on Monday.
“I’m not going to get into the details on everything, but they tried to do what was best for the team and also give me an opportunity to stay if I wanted to. … I think they were at a crossroads as well where they wanted to do right by me and also had to make sure that they do their jobs and do it in the best interest of the group.”
While Marchand’s focus is to max out of the remainder of his years in the NHL, he acknowledged that the Bruins likely aren’t on the same timeline — especially after overhauling a significant portion of their roster.
“I want to win. I’m a competitor and the guys in that office are competitors and they want to win and they’re not going to go down the path of building losing teams. So they are doing what they feel is right to build for a bright future when they have a young core and you can’t get upset about those things.
“I would’ve loved and it would’ve been incredible to have that fairytale ending, but they’re doing what’s right for the guys in the room. They can’t choose one guy over the 20 guys and frankly, the millions of people that support the team. You owe it to the guys that are on term here that are young and the guys that just signed with the organization to build a Cup-contending team. … So it’s not a personal thing. I never let it get personal.”
Marchand again brushed aside talk of donning a black-and-gold sweater once again in July.
“You can’t waste a day,” Marchand said. “I learned that very the hard way a couple years ago when we had the best season ever and we just thought we were going to be in the finals. And you waste the day, you start looking ahead, you start worrying about things that are not in your immediate future.
“It can pull you away from what you need to do to accomplish the goal here and now. So I’m not going to think about that. I’m not going to worry about it until the time comes. … I can’t even think about what’s going to happen down the road.”
DKH
Worst Poster/Awful Takes
- Feb 27, 2002
- 78,375
- 61,231
baring something unforeseen he’s coming back- I can’t believe this is even an issue. I bet he would like a do over.
0.0 he’s signing elsewhere ‘if’ Boston extends him ball park to the deal he turned down (I’m going it ends up 2X6.8 (Bucci that’s $6.8 each year don’t divide the 6.8 by 2)
I was watching Mittlestadt last night to get a feel how they would mesh - I think it could work well
Mittlestadt is a very good passer and gets entries pretty well - not Krejci level but up there
This should be a good second line foundation
0.0 he’s signing elsewhere ‘if’ Boston extends him ball park to the deal he turned down (I’m going it ends up 2X6.8 (Bucci that’s $6.8 each year don’t divide the 6.8 by 2)
I was watching Mittlestadt last night to get a feel how they would mesh - I think it could work well
Mittlestadt is a very good passer and gets entries pretty well - not Krejci level but up there
This should be a good second line foundation
Wish you well in your recovery once again! If you need anything, I'm here for you. You got this! Last one!
BigGoalBrad
Registered User
- Jun 3, 2012
- 11,275
- 4,007
Will Marchand even play a regular season game for them? It's mid March and he's not close. He's too competitive to not give it a go in the postseason I'm sure he plays first round even if not fully healthy.
JRull86
Registered User
Maurice has said they want to try and get him into regualr season games, but who knows how the injury is, etc.
It'd would be somewaht hilarious if he got traded for a 2nd, and never actually plays a game for them due to injury and FLA getting upset in R1.
