Boston Bruins: Analyzing and grading the 2019-20 season of Brad Marchand
By Scott Roche
Analyzing and grading the 2019-20 season of Brad Marchand.
The 2019-20 National Hockey League regular-season and Stanley Cup playoffs were one like we have never seen before due to the coronavirus pandemic.
When the NHL paused the season on March 12 due to COVID-19, the Boston Bruins were sitting atop of the league standings with 100 points and on their way to winning the Presidents’ Trophy. A big reason why the Bruins were the best team in the league was because of the offensive production Brad Marchand was giving them for a fourth consecutive season.
In 2018-19, he set a career-high with 64 assists and became the first Bruin since Joe Thornton in the 2002-03 season to eclipse the 100-point plateau. In 70 games last season, he had 59 helpers and was on pace to at least tie his career-high, if not set a new one. He was also closing in on his fifth straight 30-goal season with 28, including five game-winning goals.
He was also a vital part of the Bruins second-ranked top power-play unit with five goals and 23 assists.
Marchand brought more to the team than his point production. He was arguably the Bruins’ best neutral zone and defensive zone player, whether it was 5-on-5, shorthanded, or on the man advantage.
While the Bruins were rolling toward the end of the regular season in March and playing their best hockey of the season heading into the playoffs before the season was paused, things didn’t go the same way in the Toronto playoff bubble.
The Bruins struggled to get back to playing the way they were before the four-month layoff, but Marchand never skipped a beat.
In 13 playoff games, he was Boston’s best offensive player, tallying seven goals and five assists.
It is no coincidence that with Marchand’s numbers and play going to another level at 32 years old, so has linemate David Pastrnak.
Pastrnak finished tied with Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals for the Maurice Rocket Richard Award for leading the league in goals with 48. Marchand assisted on 26 of Pasta’s regular-season goals, with 18 being the primary assist. He also assisted on 11 of Pastrnak’s 20 regular season power-play tallies.
As has been the case in the last couple of years, playmaker-Marchand is making his teammates better and that has earned him recognition by the NHL Network as they recently ranked him the sixth-best wing in the league.
What also should not go overlooked is that Marchand was on his “best behavior” by his standards. He was not suspended by the NHL for any on-ice antics, which has been a thorn in his side in years past where he would be suspended for any number of games and it left the Bruins shorthanded roster wise.
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With his offensive production and his consistent play this season in all facets of the game both in the regular season and in the playoffs, this is an easy grade.