Brad Marchand has been called a pest and a rat, but no matter what you think of him, you can’t say anything about how he steps up when his team needs him the most.
This playoffs is the first for Marchand as the captain of the Bruins, and so far, he’s doing everything right.
He’s always been a plague on Toronto, and the first round of this year’s playoffs has been no different.
In Game 1, he provoked Max Domi into taking unnecessary penalties. In Game 3, he did the same with Tyler Bertuzzi, and he also scored twice and picked up two assists.
The Bruins have won both of those games, with Marchand in the center of attention, to take a 2-1 lead over the Maple Leafs.
Many outside Boston were hesitant when Marchand was named team captain prior to this season. He has done some controversial things in the past, embarrassing stuff like licking his teammates and serving several individual suspensions.
But Marchand is a leader, and in a TNT segment on Thursday, Wayne Gretzky spoke highly of Marchand’s leadership qualities.
The Great One also shared an untold story about an incredible gesture from Marchand last summer that showcased how much he cares about the Bruins and his younger teammates.
Marchand voluntarily took part in the rookies’ training camp for five days to teach them all about how to be a Bruin. It’s not a usual thing for veterans to take part in these types of camps, but Marchand did it for them.
”One of the great stories I’ve ever heard in hockey, and there are so many good stories because there are so many great people in it,” Gretzky said. ”But I was told by a friend that he went to training camp last year with the rookies for five days and practiced with them to teach them how to be a pro and what it’s like to be a Boston Bruin.”
For Wayne Gretzky, that says everything you need to know about Brad Marchand.
”So to me, that’s the sign of a great captain. And he’s [Marchand]; his leadership is untouched; he’s just a tremendous, tremendous athlete. And listen, he’s a pain in the butt to play against; I’d hate to play against them.”
