Sidney Crosby Loves Brad Marchand On Team Canada

Apr 7, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) is congratulated by his teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) is congratulated by his teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sidney Crosby was recently interviewed on the upcoming World Cup of Hockey. Crosby will likely captain Team Canada as they take on some of the best NHL players on the planet. Team Canada’s roster have been tweaked a few times since the roster first came out, and when asked which player Crosby is most looking forward to play with, it took Crosby just a moment to answer.

“That’s tough,” offered Crosby, who won his second Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins this June.  “An interesting one for me is Brad Marchand.”

“You’re so used to playing against him, you know the way he plays,” offered Crosby on the Boston Bruins ‘Little Ball of Hate’.

“Having him on your team is going to be so much more enjoyable than having to play against him,” continued Crosby to Sportsnet. “Having a local guy, someone who’s from the same area, I think that’s pretty special to be competing for Team Canada with someone like that.”

Both Marchand and Crosby are from Nova Scotia. They’ve spent the last few weeks training together in Halifax.  There is a serious possibility that Crosby could find himself on a line with Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. No wonder Team Canada is the odds-on favorite to win the World Cup.

Brad Marchand earned himself a place on Team Canada’s roster due to his career best 37-goal season. He’s done nothing but evolve into an elite hockey player. His hard-nosed (pun mostly intended) but elite play has earned him respect of the rest of the NHL.

Crosby went on to compliment Marchand on his hockey play and his career. There’s been no love lost between these two players over the years, but its nice to see that Crosby has turned the corner on his opinion of Marchand.

“You look at the season he had—he’s proven he can be a lot more than just an agitator,” offered Crosby on our Nose-faced Killah. “He’s a really good player, but part of his game is playing a tough brand [of hockey]. Playing right on that edge. He’s had a tremendous career so far. I think that’ll be someone fun to join up with.”

Team Canada is a perennial powerhouse in any hockey event. This year is no different. The Canadians will be bringing an awful lot of heat to the World Cup next month. Brad Marchand will be an important part of that team, and it’s great to see Sidney Crosby appreciate him.