While it feels as though the Stanley Cup Finals were forever ago, here at the Causeway Crowd we continue to discuss the players of the team and how they performed throughout. This edition discusses the leader in points for not only the Bruins, but the entire league in the playoffs; Brad Marchand.
The NHL’s most hated player continuously showed that he had all the Boston Bruins needed on the offensive side of the puck, but there was simply something missing at times. Brad Marchand didn’t bring the pest in him as much as fans may have wanted when it came to the Stanley Cup Finals.
There were also multiple occasions of Brad Marchand being a liability on the defensive side when teams began to go on a break and he seemingly shut down. With that said, Marchand earned himself a grade of a B.
Some fans may see a B as generous or even too low, but it perfectly exemplifies the fact that he was awesome on the offensive end and dreadful at times on the defensive end at even strength.
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Fans can more than likely remember the time in Game 7 when he bumped Jaden Schwartz just barely before skating off the ice, which ultimately led to the second goal. That wasn’t the first time Brad Marchand left the ice when his team needed him on the other end which hurts his grade at this time.
It was weird too, due to the fact that he has proven to be one of the better defensive wingers in the league. He has been one of the best short-handed guys in the history of the NHL which means Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy trusts him on both ends. The reason for his grade has less to do with the defensive struggles and plenty to do with his ability on the offensive side.
He led the way in points with 23, tying Ryan O’Reilly who actually played 2 more games in the playoffs and won the Conn Smythe Trophy, which proves how good Brad Marchand was for the Boston Bruins in the playoffs.
He tallied 9 goals and 14 assists, with 12 of his points coming on the power play. It was learned later on that Marchand got hurt during the scrimmage the Boston Bruins held which led to him re-aggravating a wrist injury, along with groin and oblique injuries.
Brad Marchand proved to still be one of the best players on the ice and had a career year that can never be doubted. Unfortunately, he had such an up and down playoffs and had a costly moment that leads to him getting a B of a grade in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.