It was revealed this offseason by Brad Marchand, when he told reporters on an informal skate this past Tuesday, that he underwent three surgeries this summer, per Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub. He will be limited to start training camp later this month, but he is expected to be ready by Opening Night, when the Boston Bruins visit the Florida Panthers.
The first surgery was to repair a torn tendon in his elbow that slowed him down through the duration of the 2024 season, he said. He also had abdominal and groin surgeries to address a groin injury and a sports hernia later in the season.
The injuries didn’t cost him a lot of playing time, as Brad Marchand played all 82 games in the regular season. However, he missed two playoff games after taking a vicious hit from Sam Bennett that sent him hard onto the boards. The team ruled it an upper-body injury, though that injury was presumably addressed with said abdominal surgery.
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Brad Marchand Eyes a Bounce-Back Season
Even at age 36, Brad Marchand still carries the mentality that he has to prove himself at the start of every season. The motivation is still there, and he added that he wants another shot at the Panthers, who sent the Bruins packing for two straight seasons.
He slowed down offensively last season, but whether that was because of injuries, age, or even both, is yet to be determined. He posted 67 points last season, averaging 0.82 points per game, his lowest per game rate since 2016. He still finished second on the team in scoring behind David Pastrnak.
He will return to the lineup on a top six role, though he will likely not be on Pastrnak’s line as Elias Lindholm will slot in down the middle. It’s expected by many, including Brad Marchand himself, that he would start the season on the second line on Charlie Coyle’s left wing, per Conor Ryan of The Boston Globe.
This season is a crucial juncture for Brad Marchand, as this will be the final year of his eight-year, $49 million contract extension he signed back in 2016. General manager Don Sweeney added that signing Marchand to another extension is a top priority this summer, but no word has come out on any progress on an extension yet.
Written by Alec Nava (@DatYinzerAlec)
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