April 16, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) and Washington Capitals defenseman Roman Hamrlik (44) swat at the puck during the first period of game three of the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Verizon Center. The Bruins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE
Another piece of the 2013 Stanley Cup Champions Boston Bruins puzzle gets put into place today. Today, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli informed the media that our own “Little Ball of Hate” will remain a Bruin. Brad Marchand signed a four year contract extension. This will keep #63 in the black and gold(Marchy prefers Black and Yellow) until the 2016-2017 season.
Marchand was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the third round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He was the seventy-first pick overall. Currently, Brad is in his third season(season permitting) with the Boston Bruins.
Marchand’s rookie season was the 2010-2011 season. The year the Bruins won it all for themselves, the city, and the Nation. In his first year in Boston, #63 put up forty-one points(twenty one goals, five of them short handed). He was second overall for rookies, putting up an impressive plus/minus of +25. At the end of the year, the rookie garnered himself the illustrious 7th Player Award for exceeding the expectations of the fans. (I voted for him.)
The post season didn’t slow him down. The feisty scrapper put up nineteen points in the playoffs. He scored eleven goals in the post season, an excellent short handed goal in game three and the very last goal of the 2010-2011 season.
Marchand’s second year as a Bruin was even better. Marchy’s production increased. He was the second leading scorer for the Bruins(behind Seguin), tallying twenty-eight goals. Brad put up a total of fifty-five points for the season and was fifth overall in the league with a plus/minus of +31. (The other four people in front of him were also Bruins.) #63 is a dedicated player who is explosive for his size.
Marchand is also known for his swagger. The personality of the “Nose Faced Killah” is occasionally over the top, but his game play and his work ethic make him a commodity in the NHL. He occasionally likes to be shirtless at parties, and has a towel related hijinx or two at Foxwoods( He won the cup, as a minister and a Bruins’ fan, he’s forgiven.) He received a total of one hundred and thirty eight minutes in penalties in the last two seasons, and was unfairly sidelined for a five game suspension for a ‘clip’ on the Vancouver Canucks Sami Salo last year.
He is my favorite player currently playing on the Bruins. My guru/brother talked me up about Tim Thomas, a guy my age who has had almost as many surgeries and hospital stays as I have. He also talked me up about a guy my size who was crazy enough to go up against people half a foot taller and forty pounds heavier and give as good as he got every time. Thanks for being a Bruin Marchy. Give em hell this season.
January 24, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) lines up for a face-off against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE