Brad Marchand
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Bradley Kevin Marchand ( ; born May 11, 1988) is a Canadian professional
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
left winger In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...
for the
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
of the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). The
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
selected Marchand in the third round, 71st overall, of the 2006 NHL entry draft. Marchand was raised in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, the oldest of four children born to two local hockey coaches. Between 2004 and 2008, Marchand played for three
junior ice hockey Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from ...
teams – he was drafted by the
Moncton Wildcats The Moncton Wildcats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Moncton, New Brunswick. The franchise was granted for the 1995–96 QMJHL season, 1995–96 season known as the Moncton A ...
, was traded to the Val-d'Or Foreurs in 2006, and was traded again to the
Halifax Mooseheads The Halifax Mooseheads are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio Division of the QMJHL for the 1994–95 ...
in 2007. At the same time, the Bruins were
scouting Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth social movement, movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activi ...
Marchand, and made a trade with the
New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...
to ensure that he was drafted by Boston in 2006. After Halifax fell to the
Gatineau Olympiques The Gatineau Olympiques are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Gatineau, Quebec, that plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Olympiques play home games at Centre Slush Puppi ...
in the 2009 QMJHL championships, with Marchand a healthy scratch for their elimination game, the Bruins told Marchand to stay home and report that fall for training camp. He spent the 2008–09 season with the
Providence Bruins The Providence Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Providence, Rhode Island. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). They play at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Hi ...
before making his NHL debut in October 2009. Marchand was a member of the Bruins' starting roster in 2010, playing on the fourth line and helping the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in
2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...
after being moved up from the fourth to the first line once the
playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
began. Marchand also helped the Bruins clinch appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals in
2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
and
2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
. As time went on, Marchand was increasing both his number of goals per season and his reputation as a pest, and he has been named to four NHL All-Star Teams. During the 2017–18 season, Marchand received a series of fines, suspensions, and media controversies for hits on his opponents. He decided after the season to focus on improving his character, and followed through by scoring 100 points (36 goals, 64 assists) during the 2018−19 season. Marchand's high-scoring season was undercut by a disappointing defeat in game seven of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, and as he moved into the 2019–20 season, Marchand focused on setting up scoring chances for linemates
Patrice Bergeron Patrice Bergeron-Cleary (born July 24, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre (ice hockey), centre who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Boston Bruins. He served as Captain (sports), team captain f ...
and David Pastrňák. However, Marchand's reputation of suspensions and rule-breaking behavior continued in the 2021–22 season, as he was suspended a total of nine games in that season alone, and became the most suspended player in NHL history, in terms of individual suspensions. After a trade to the defending Stanley Cup champions Panthers, Marchand played a key role in the Panthers' postseason run and won his second Stanley Cup in
2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...
. Marchand has represented Canada at the
2016 World Cup of Hockey The 2016 World Cup of Hockey (abbreviated WCH2016) was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the third installment of the National Hockey League (NHL)-sanctioned competition, 12 years after the second World Cup of Hockey in 2004. It was ...
and the Four Nations Face-Off in 2025, winning both.


Early life

Marchand was born on May 11, 1988, in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, a suburb of Halifax. Marchand was the oldest of four children born to Kevin and Lynn Marchand, with all of his siblings born in a four-year span. His father was known as a goon during his
junior ice hockey Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from ...
years, at one time engaging in 40 fights within a 40-game span. After collecting 358 penalty minutes in one season, Kevin Marchand's coach taught him how to balance the physical aspect of the game with skill and scoring, a lesson which he in turn taught his children as they began their hockey careers. Marchand began playing hockey at the age of two in
Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia Lower Sackville is a suburban community of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. History Before European colonization in 1749, the Mi'kmaq lived in this area for thousands of years. In August 1749, Captain John Gorham, act ...
, and developed an aggressive playing style from a young age. He remembers beginning to fight in games around the age of 13 as an outlet for his excessive energy. The following year, he hit an opponent with enough force to damage the
cage A cage is an enclosure often made of mesh, bars, or wires, used to confine, contain or protect something or someone. A cage can serve many purposes, including keeping an animal or person in captivity, capturing an animal or person, and displayi ...
on the player's helmet. Marchand struggled with his temper throughout his childhood, and took
anger management Anger management is a psycho-therapeutic program for anger prevention and control. It has been described as deploying anger successfully.Schwarts, Gil. July 2006. Anger Management', July 2006 The Office Politic. Men's Health magazine. Emmaus, PA: ...
classes as an adolescent. As his hockey career progressed, he would also begin seeing a sport psychologist to address his on-ice frustrations. Growing up, Marchand became close friends with future
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL) player and teammate on the
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
minor league team, the
Providence Bruins The Providence Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Providence, Rhode Island. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). They play at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Hi ...
, Andrew Bodnarchuk, a fellow Hammonds Plains native and his
minor ice hockey Minor ice hockey or minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body c ...
teammate for the Dartmouth Subways of the Tantallon Amateur Sports Association. Marchand also played for his school team at Madeline Symonds Middle School alongside Bodnarchuk. Marchand gained a reputation both for taking penalties and for riling his opponents during his minor hockey career, and he formed intense rivalries both with his Cole Harbour rivals and with his larger, stronger teammates.


Playing career


Amateur

The
Moncton Wildcats The Moncton Wildcats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Moncton, New Brunswick. The franchise was granted for the 1995–96 QMJHL season, 1995–96 season known as the Moncton A ...
of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The league includes teams in Quebec ...
(QMJHL) selected Marchand 24th overall in the 2004 QMJHL entry draft. He scored 29 goals for Moncton in his draft year, and was awarded the team's Rookie of the Year. Shortly before the 2005–06 season, Moncton hired Ted Nolan as their new head coach, and he took to Marchand's "drive and determination" at once, giving the skater an extensive role on the team. Under this new direction, Marchand scored 29 goals and 66
points A point is a small dot or the sharp tip of something. Point or points may refer to: Mathematics * Point (geometry), an entity that has a location in space or on a plane, but has no extent; more generally, an element of some abstract topologica ...
in 68 regular season games for Moncton, and led the team to a President's Cup championship and the
Memorial Cup The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), a consortium of three Junior ice hockey, major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tou ...
finals with another five goals and 14 assists in 20 playoff games. The Wildcats ultimately lost in the finals to the
Quebec Remparts The Quebec Remparts () are a Canadian junior ice hockey based in Quebec City, Quebec. The team plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and is named after the Ramparts of Quebec City (). There have been two franchises name ...
. The
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
of the NHL spent the season
scouting Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth social movement, movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activi ...
Marchand, and traded two fourth-round picks in the 2006 NHL entry draft to the
New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...
in exchange for a third-round pick, which they used to select Marchand 71st overall. Marchand signed an
entry-level contract An entry-level job is a job that is normally designed or designated for recent graduates of a given discipline and typically does not require prior experience in the field or profession. These roles may require some on-site training. Many entr ...
with the team in October 2007. On January 2, 2006, the Wildcats traded Marchand and two draft picks to the Val-d'Or Foreurs in exchange for Luc Bourdon, Jean-Sebastien Adam, and Ian Mathieu-Girard, with Marchand's part of the trade going into effect just before the 2006–07 season. He scored 33 goals and 47 assists in 57 regular season games with Val-d'Or, and in that season's playoffs, he led the league with 16 goals and 24 assists in 20 games. At the same time, he showed signs of being a grinder, putting up 36 penalty minutes. Although the Lewiston Maineiacs swept the Foreurs in the Memorial Cup finals, Maineiacs skater
David Perron David Perron (born May 28, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Growing up in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Perron played his junior hockey for the Lewiston Maineiacs of the Queb ...
and goaltender
Jonathan Bernier Jonathan Bernier (born August 7, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the first round, 11th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Los An ...
saw a threat in Marchand, both for his offensive ability and the way in which he frustrated his opponents. He returned to the Foreurs the following season, putting up 21 goals and 23 assists in 33 games. On December 17, 2007, the first day of the QMJHL trading window, the Foreurs traded Marchand to the
Halifax Mooseheads The Halifax Mooseheads are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio Division of the QMJHL for the 1994–95 ...
in exchange for forward Maxime Sauvé and five future draft picks, including two in the first round. Earlier that day, Halifax had acquired Sauvé from the Quebec Remparts in exchange for centre David Gilbert. When the Foreurs had first approached Marchand about potential trades, he had been eager to join his hometown team, where his childhood friends Hillier and Bodnarchuk were already playing. He played in 26 regular season games for Halifax, putting up 29 points in the process, before leading the team with 18 postseason points in 14 games. After the Mooseheads lost three straight semifinal games to the
Gatineau Olympiques The Gatineau Olympiques are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Gatineau, Quebec, that plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Olympiques play home games at Centre Slush Puppi ...
, however, Halifax head coach Cam Russell made Marchand a healthy scratch for Game 4, which Halifax ultimately lost as well.


AHL season (2008–2009)

After the Mooseheads' loss in the QMJHL playoffs, the Bruins told Marchand that, rather than joining the team for the remainder of their season, he would be invited to summer training camp. Marchand was frustrated with the decision, which was rumoured to be due to his on-ice attitude, and he entered the Bruins' 2008 training camp looking to rebuild his reputation and establish himself as a strong player. He played the 2008–09 season with the
Providence Bruins The Providence Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Providence, Rhode Island. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). They play at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Hi ...
, Boston's
American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
(AHL) affiliate, where he finished second in scoring among all AHL rookies with 18 goals and 41 assists in 79 games. That scoring continued into the playoffs, where Marchand added another seven goals and eight assists in 16 games. The Providence Bruins advanced to the final four of the 2009
Calder Cup The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League (AHL). It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars. The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In it ...
playoffs, where they were eliminated by the eventual Calder Cup-winning
Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Bears have played in the American Hockey League (AHL) since the 1938–39 season, making it the longest continuously operating member club of the league still ...
.


Boston Bruins (2009–2025)

Marchand opened the 2009–10 season with Providence, but received his first NHL call-up after scoring six points in his first six games. He made his NHL debut on October 21, 2009, picking up an assist on Michael Ryder's goal in a 3–2 win against the
Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...
. After 11 scoreless games, Boston sent Marchand back down to Providence, where he scored only seven goals in a 28-game stretch. Later in the season, Marchand saw a hot streak of 16 points in 14 AHL games, leading to his second call-up. He skated in 20 NHL games that year, putting up only one assist and 20 penalty minutes. Originally, Marchand was meant to serve as the Bruins' spare fourth-line forward for the 2010–11 season, with
Daniel Paille Daniel Joseph Paille (born April 15, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He was originally drafted 20th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and also played in the National Hockey League with th ...
starting alongside Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton. However, a strong training camp performance from Marchand pushed Paille from the starting lineup to the bench, with the latter filling in during brief periods of injury. Marchand scored his first NHL goal on November 3, 2010, against the
Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...
. By the end of the season, Marchand had 41 points (21 goals, 20 assists) in 77 contests, far fewer than fellow rookies
Jeff Skinner Jeffrey Scott Skinner (born May 16, 1992) is a Canadians, Canadian professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), left winger for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo ...
, Logan Couture, and Michael Grabner, but he averaged significantly less time on the ice, and when he was asked to play, he was given few opportunities to score. Marchand also earned the first suspension of his NHL career during the season, receiving a two-game penalty on March 17, 2011, for elbowing R. J. Umberger of the
Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...
. That year, Marchand was the recipient of the Bruin's Seventh Player Award, given by fans of the
New England Sports Network New England Sports Network, popularly known as NESN , is an American regional sports cable and satellite television network owned by a joint venture of Fenway Sports Group (which owns a controlling 80% interest, and is the owner of the Boston ...
to the player who surpassed expectations. By the 2011 playoffs, Marchand got bumped up from the fourth line with Thornton and Campbell to the first line with
Patrice Bergeron Patrice Bergeron-Cleary (born July 24, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre (ice hockey), centre who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Boston Bruins. He served as Captain (sports), team captain f ...
and
Mark Recchi Mark Louis Recchi (; born February 1, 1968) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played 22 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, and he played f ...
. On April 14, Marchand made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in the first game of the opening round against the
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
, where the Bruins would be defeated 2–0 to give the Bruins a 1–0 deficit to start the series. In game two of the matchup two days later, Marchand recorded his first career playoff assist on a Patrice Bergeron goal although the Canadiens would defeat the Bruins in the game 3–1 to give the Bruins a 2–0 series deficit. After helping the Bruins win the next two games, Marchand recorded his first career playoff goal in game five of the series on Canadiens' goaltender
Carey Price Carey Price (born August 16, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently under contract with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Considered one of the best goaltenders in the world during his career, ...
as the Bruins won the game 2–1 for a 3–2 series lead. The third-seeded Bruins would go on to defeat the Canadiens in seven games before sweeping the second-seeded
Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...
and defeating the fifth-seeded
Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...
in seven games en route to help the Bruins clinch their first appearance in the
Stanley Cup Finals The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, ) is the annual championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional spo ...
since
1990 Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
. After losing the first two games of the Finals against the
Presidents' Trophy The Presidents' Trophy () is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL) to the team that finishes with the most points (i.e., best overall record) during the regular season. If two teams are tied for the most points, then the Trophy ...
-winning
Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
and going pointless in both, Marchand recorded a goal on Canucks' goaltender Roberto Luongo and an assist on a Mark Recchi as in Game 3 on June 6 the Bruins exploded to an 8–1 victory before going on to score another goal in another lopsided 4–0 win over the Canucks in Game 4 on June 8 to even the series 2–2. After getting shutout in a 1–0 loss in Game 5 on June 10 for a 3–2 deficit, Marchand scored the first goal of the game in Game 6 on June 13 as the Bruins would go on to win the game 5–2 to and forcing a seventh game and prevent the Canucks from clinching the Stanley Cup. In the sixth game, Marchand was criticized by sportswriters for repeatedly punching Canucks star forward
Daniel Sedin Daniel Hans Sedin (born 26 September 1980) is a Swedish ice hockey executive and former winger who played his entire 17-season National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Vancouver Canucks from 2000 to 2018. Born and raised in Örnsköldsvik ...
, an altercation for which he received no penalty. After the fact, reporters asked why Marchand continued to hit Sedin unprovoked, to which he responded, "Because I felt like it." Marchand scored two goals one of which an empty net goal and an assist on a Patrice Bergeron goal in Game 7 of the finals on June 15, helping to clinch the championship for Boston against the Canucks as the Bruins won the game 4–0 for a 4–3 series victory, erasing a 3–2 series deficit in doing so. He finished the playoffs by scoring 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in all 25 postseason games. Marchand's 11 playoff goals during the Bruins' 2011 championship run tied
Jeremy Roenick Jeremy Shaffer Roenick ( ; born January 17, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 8th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Chica ...
for the second-most of any NHL rookie. On September 14, 2011, the Bruins announced that they had re-signed Marchand to a two-year contract, without disclosing the financial terms of the deal. Shortly after, Marchand scored the Bruins' first goal of the 2011–12 season in the season opener on October 6, a backhand pass against the Philadelphia Flyers. As the season progressed, Marchand also continued to develop his reputation as a pest. That October, Marchand tried to fight with defenceman
P. K. Subban Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban ( ; born May 13, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Between 2009 and 2022, he played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, and ...
of the Montreal Canadiens twice within the same game, only to be broken up by officials both times. On December 12, the NHL fined Marchand $2,500 for slew footing Matt Niskanen of the
Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
the week prior, a penalty which resulted in an on-ice fight between Marchand and Niskanen. Later that season, Marchand scored his first NHL
hat trick A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mechan ...
, scoring three goals and a career-high five points in the Bruins' defeat of the
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
on December 23. On January 9, 2012, Marchand was suspended for five games and fined over $150,000 for clipping Vancouver Canucks defenceman Sami Salo, resulting in a
concussion A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a head injury that temporarily affects brain functioning. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, difficulty with thinking and concentration, sleep disturbances, a brief ...
for Salo. Marchand and Julien defended the hit, arguing that it was performed in self-defence against Salo, who stood taller than Marchand. After finishing his breakout season having scored 28 goals and 27 assists for 55 points in 76 contests and playing on a line with Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin, Marchand was moved to the Bruins' "Merlot" line with Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton for the 2012 playoffs. After battling their way to a Game 7 overtime, the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins fell to the seventh-seeded
Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. At the end of the year, Marchand took home both the Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy, awarded for outstanding performance during home games, and the John P. Bucyk Award for charitable contributions off the ice. On September 7, 2012, the Bruins extended Marchand's contract by four more years, with his salary carrying an average annual value of $4.5 million. When the 2012–13 season was indefinitely delayed due to a lockout, many of Marchand's teammates struck deals to play in European hockey leagues, an option that Marchand met with trepidation. He ultimately chose to wait out the lock-out, and did not play professional hockey until the season began in January 2013. Paired with Bergeron and Seguin, both of whom spent the lock-out in the Swiss National League, Marchand worried that he would be out of practice compared to his teammates. He ultimately scored 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points in 45 games of the 48-game lockout-shortened season, which in a regular 82-game season anticipated that he would have scored over 30 goals and recorded over 35 assists for 65 points. As the Bruins defeated the fifth-seeded
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
in seven games in the first round of the 2013 playoffs, Marchand scored his first postseason overtime goal in Game 1 of the second round series against Henrik Lundqvist of the sixth-seeded
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
. After defeating the Rangers in five games in the second round and sweeping the top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round to clinch their spot in the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals, the Presidents' Trophy-winning
Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
overpowered the Bruins in the Finals, defeating them in six games. Going into the 2013–14 season with Tyler Seguin and
Jaromír Jágr Jaromír Jágr (; born 15 February 1972) is a Czech professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), right winger and owner of Rytíři Kladno of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh ...
no longer on the Bruins, Marchand struggled to adjust to his new linemate Loui Eriksson, colliding with the other winger during a preseason game against the
Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
on September 27, 2013. Marchand's struggles continued into the season, with just three goals in the first 20 games. Bruins head coach Claude Julien demoted Marchand from the second to the third and fourth lines on several occasions, giving players like Jordan Caron an opportunity to fill his position in the top-six. His decision to taunt the
Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
by kissing his 2011 Stanley Cup championship ring in a December 14 game at
Rogers Arena Rogers Arena, (formerly General Motors Place), is a multi-purpose list of indoor arenas, arena at 800 Griffiths Way in the Downtown Vancouver, downtown area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1995, the arena was known as General ...
, (the first time the Bruins returned to the arena since game seven of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals on June 15, 2011) that the Bruins lost 6–2 frustrated Julien, who wanted to improve Marchand's scoring while tempering his emotions. By the end of the season, Marchand had improved to 25 goals and set a career high of 28 assists for 53 points in all 82 games played to help the Bruins win the
Presidents' Trophy The Presidents' Trophy () is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL) to the team that finishes with the most points (i.e., best overall record) during the regular season. If two teams are tied for the most points, then the Trophy ...
as the regular season champions, but he voiced disappointment in his own individual performance, citing a struggle with the mental aspects of hockey. His scoring struggles continued into the 2014 playoffs, when the Bruins defeated the eighth-seeded
Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
in five games before getting defeated in six games by the sixth-seeded
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
in the second round and Marchand scored only five assists in all 12 games and missed an
empty net goal An empty net goal, abbreviated as EN or ENG and colloquially called an empty netter, occurs in several team sports when a team scores a goal into a net with no goaltender ''(goalie)'' present. Ice hockey Empty net goals usually occur on two occas ...
in game four in the first round from only away. Despite dissatisfaction with his own performance, the Bruins awarded Marchand the 2014 Eddie Shore Award, given to the player who demonstrates "exceptional hustle and determination" throughout the season. Marchand entered the 2014–15 season having worked on his off-season conditioning and the mental aspects of the game in the hopes that it would break his slump from the previous season. On November 15, 2014, Marchand recorded his 100th career NHL assist in a 2–1 victory over the
Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
on a goal by
Patrice Bergeron Patrice Bergeron-Cleary (born July 24, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre (ice hockey), centre who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Boston Bruins. He served as Captain (sports), team captain f ...
. On December 6, Marchand scored his 100th NHL goal in a 5–2 win over the
Arizona Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...
on Coyotes' goaltender Devan Dubnyk. Although the season was considered a disappointment as a team, having finished the season with only 96 points in the standings, just two points behind the
Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
for the eighth and last playoff spot to miss the
playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
as a result for the first time since
2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
, Marchand was a bright spot, leading Boston with 24 total goals and five game-winning goals while also recording 18 assists for 42 points in 77 contests. After the season, Marchand admitted in an interview that the Bruins had been "a little bit divided", and that there were "different cliques" on the team, which in turn impacted their on-ice performance. He also revealed that he had been battling an elbow injury ever since the 2014 playoffs, and he underwent surgery during the 2015 off-season to repair torn tendons in the area. After the season, 98.5 The Sports Hub named Marchand the Bruins' Third Star of the year, with Bergeron and
Tuukka Rask Tuukka Mikael Rask (born 10 March 1987) is a Finns, Finnish former professional ice hockey Goaltender (ice hockey), goaltender. Rask was drafted 21st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Boston ...
receiving the first and second stars, respectively. The Bruins' offence continued to struggle into the 2015–16 season, when Marchand was indefinitely placed on the injured list. He had been stunned by a collision with Dale Weise of the Montreal Canadiens on October 10, 2015, and did not return to the game; the Bruins later revealed that Marchand had suffered a concussion from the collision. He ultimately missed two games, returning on October 17 for a match against the Arizona Coyotes. Marchand was on the other side of a suspension on November 12, when he suffered an illegal check to the head from
Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
skater and captain
Gabriel Landeskog Gabriel Landeskog (; born 23 November 1992) is a Swedish professional ice hockey winger (ice hockey), left winger and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected second overall in ...
. Landeskog received a two-game suspension, while Marchand was fined $5,000 for throwing a punch after the incident. On December 30, Marchand received a suspension of his own for clipping Mark Borowiecki of the
Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
. Because Marchand was considered a repeat offender, he was penalized with three games and over $150,000. During a home game on February 6, 2016, Marchand was allowed an overtime
penalty shot A penalty shot or penalty kick is a play used in several sports whereby a Goal (sport), goal is attempted during untimed play. Depending on the sport, when a player commits certain types of penalties, the opposition is awarded a penalty shot or k ...
against the
Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...
when defenceman
Rasmus Ristolainen Rasmus Ristolainen (born 27 October 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL entry draft. Playing ...
dropped his stick to grab Marchand and prevent a shot. Marchand successfully made the shot for the first overtime penalty-shot goal in franchise history. While the Bruins missed the playoffs once again by just three points in the standings with a regular season tiebreaker loss to the Ottawa Senators, Marchand set a career-high 37 goals during the 2015–16 season along with 24 assists for 61 points in 77 games. He also received his second Seventh Player Award, as voted by fans of the New England Sports Network. On September 26, 2016, the Bruins signed Marchand to an eight-year, $49 million contract extension that would carry through to the 2024–25 season. The contract carried an annual average value of $6.125 million. Marchand opened the 2016–17 season with a scoring rush, putting up two goals and three assists for five points in the first game of the season against the
Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...
, followed by four points in the next three games against the
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
,
Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
and
New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
, respectively. After leading the Bruins in scoring for the first half of the season, putting up 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in 43 games, Marchand received his first selection to the
NHL All-Star Game The National Hockey League All-Star Game () is an exhibition ice hockey tournament that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many of the League's star players playing against each other. The ga ...
in January 2017. He nearly missed the game after meeting with the Department of Player Safety for a "dangerous trip" of Niklas Kronwall of the
Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
, but ultimately received a $10,000 fine and no suspension. On March 14, Marchand recorded an assist on a goal by David Backes and scored the second hat trick of his NHL career and sixth career four point game, with all three goals coming in the third period of a 6–3 win over the
Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
. After putting up 39 goals and 46 assists for 85 points in 80 games during the season, Marchand missed the final two games of the season due a suspension for spearing Jake Dotchin of the
Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...
. The Bruins' 4–0 victory in that game helped them clinch a berth in the
playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
for the first time since
2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
. The Bruins fell to the
Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
in the first round of the 2017 playoffs in six games, with Marchand scoring only one goal and three assists for four points in the six-game series. At the end of the year, Marchand received his first NHL first All-Star team selection, while the Bruins awarded him both the Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy and the team's Third Star. After having a career year in 2016–17, Marchand intended to double down on his consistent offensive production for the 2017–18 season with linemates
Patrice Bergeron Patrice Bergeron-Cleary (born July 24, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre (ice hockey), centre who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Boston Bruins. He served as Captain (sports), team captain f ...
and David Pastrňák as they started being referred as the "Perfection" line. His athletic abilities that season, however, were largely overshadowed by his on-ice behaviour. On January 24, 2018, Marchand received a five-game suspension from the NHL for an elbow to the head of New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson the previous day, who suffered a
concussion A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a head injury that temporarily affects brain functioning. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, difficulty with thinking and concentration, sleep disturbances, a brief ...
from the play. It was the ninth time that Marchand had received either a fine or suspension from the Department of Player Safety. Despite the 2018 All-Star Game taking place in the midst of Marchand's suspension, he was allowed to take part in the game and skills competition at
Amalie Arena Amalie Arena (officially stylized as AMALIE Arena) is a multipurpose arena in Tampa, Florida, United States, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, arena football, concerts, and other events. It is mainly used as the home for the Tamp ...
, where he was subject to booing from fans in attendance. On March 9, after receiving a previous warning about embellishing his reaction to a hit in an attempt to draw penalties, Marchand was fined $2,000 for embellishing a tripping penalty by Olli Määttä of the
Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
. The following day, Marchand collided with Blackhawks skater Anthony Duclair, causing the latter a season-ending leg injury. Duclair told reporters that Marchand had reached out to him after the injury, but that it was still a "pretty dirty" play. On April 2, Marchand received his second fine in the span of a month, with a $5,000 penalty for cross-checking Andrew MacDonald of the
Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...
. That same season, Marchand scored the third hat trick of his career with an overtime shot against the Red Wings. The last goal was also his 11th regular season overtime goal, passing Glen Murray's record for the most among the Bruins since overtime was reinstated during the 1983–84 season. Marchand took home the Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy for the second year in a row, and was moved from the Bruins' Third Star to Second at the end-of-year awards ceremony. Marchand's on-ice behaviour came to a head during the 2018 playoffs, when the NHL placed him on notice for kissing and licking his opponents, behaviour that the league deemed "unacceptable" while warning that "similar behavior in the future will be dealt with by way of supplemental discipline". Marchand's habit was first noticed during a November 2017 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, when he leaned in to kiss Leo Komarov on the cheek rather than fighting him. During Game 1 of the first-round playoff series between Toronto and Boston, Marchand licked Komarov on the face, joking to reporters, "I just wanted to get close to him." He and the NHL both denied that licking Komarov had led to any warning or disciplinary action from the league. Instead, the warning came during the second round, when he licked Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan across the face. After receiving the warning, Marchand told reporters that he was going to "really take a pretty hard look in the mirror" and improve "some character things". After the Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs by the top-seeded Lightning having been defeated by them in five games, the team revealed that several skaters had been playing through injuries including Marchand after he suffered a groin injury that affected him for the final six to seven games of the playoffs. Despite his injury and controversies, Marchand scored 85 points (34 goals, 51 assists) in 68 regular season games and added another 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in all 12 playoff appearances. In the opening game of the Bruins' 2018–19 season against the newly-defending Stanley Cup champion
Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
on October 3, 2018, in which the Bruins would lose 7–0, Marchand became frustrated with post-goal celebration by Capitals forward Lars Eller and started fighting Eller hard enough to bloody him. Marchand was ejected from the game with fighting and instigator penalties, as well as a 10-minute game misconduct. In his next game the next day, Marchand tied his career high four assists in a game as part of a 4–0 shutout against the
Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...
as he recorded assists on all four goals by Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrňák, Ryan Donato and captain Zdeno Chára, respectively. He and the Perfection line of him, Bergeron and Pastrňák continued to generate offensive power throughout the season, and on March 31, 2019, Marchand scored the 26th shorthanded goal of his career against Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings, breaking Rick Middleton's franchise record. In the following game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 3, Marchand scored his 100th point of the season with an assist on a goal by David Pastrňák, becoming the tenth player in franchise history to reach the mark and the first Bruin since Joe Thornton during the 2002–03 season. For his performance, Marchand received an NHL second All-Star team selection, as well as his third consecutive Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy and the Bruins' First Star. He ended the season with 36 goals and a career high 64 assists and 100 points in 79 games as the Bruins as a team finished as the third seed in the East for a second consecutive season. After the Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the first round of the 2019 playoffs for the second consecutive year and overcame a 3–2 series deficit, the Bruins and the Columbus Blue Jackets faced each other again in the second round. In Game 3 of the series on April 30, Marchand came under fire for a punch to the back of the head of defenceman Scott Harrington, which ultimately did not result in a suspension. The Bruins would eventually defeat the eighth-seeded Blue Jackets in six games and followed up by defeating the seventh-seeded
Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
in a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference finals, clinching a spot in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, Marchand's third appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. Going into the Finals, Marchand was considered a heavy favorite for the
Conn Smythe Trophy The Conn Smythe Trophy () is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general manager, and head coach of the ...
as the playoff MVP if the Bruins were to win the Stanley Cup. However, Marchand could not carry his scoring power from the regular season and the first three rounds of the playoffs into the Finals, scoring only two goals and three assists for five points in the series and carrying a −2 rating. The Bruins took the
St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
to seven games, falling 4–1 in the seventh and final game on home ice on June 12, while Marchand took responsibility for part of his team's game 7 loss. At the end of the first period of Game 7, with less than 15 seconds remaining before the first intermission, Marchand skated to the bench to signal for a line change, allowing opponents Jaden Schwartz and Alex Pietrangelo of the Blues to skate by him, with the latter scoring a goal against goaltender and teammate
Tuukka Rask Tuukka Mikael Rask (born 10 March 1987) is a Finns, Finnish former professional ice hockey Goaltender (ice hockey), goaltender. Rask was drafted 21st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Boston ...
. Marchand and the Bruins opened the 2019–20 season with a desire to move past the previous season's game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals and to continue the discipline that Marchand had been practicing in recent years. On October 27, 2019, the "Perfection line" of BergeronMarchandPastrňák combined for a total of 13 points against the
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
. While Bergeron scored his fifth career hat trick, Marchand and Pastrňák put up five points apiece, becoming the first pair of Bruins teammates to do so since Joe Thornton and Glen Murray on December 28, 2001, in a 7–1 Bruins victory over the
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
. On November 26, Marchand became the 11th Bruins skater to reach 600 career points, with a first period goal against
Carey Price Carey Price (born August 16, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently under contract with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Considered one of the best goaltenders in the world during his career, ...
of the
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
. Marchand and his linemates kept up their scoring pace throughout the season, and when the NHL suspended operations in March 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. While playing on the top line that season, Marchand became a
playmaker In association football, a playmaker is a footballer who controls the flow of the team's play, and is often involved in offensively and defensively playing Passing (association football), passing moves which lead to Goal (sport), goals, through ...
, setting up goals for Bergeron and Pastrňák. Although he had only 28 goals in the season, Marchand compiled 59 assists for 87 points, the sixth-highest in the NHL for the year and the highest on the Bruins. 26 of Pastrňák's 48 regular season goals had assists from Marchand, including 18 primary assists. Before the last three weeks of the regular season got canceled, Marchand was on pace to have a second consecutive 100 point season and second in his NHL career altogether. During the pause, Marchand was concerned that the NHL would attempt to resume operations too quickly, leading to "really, really ugly" games as unprepared skaters began playing without sufficient practice time. When the NHL resumed operations for the 2020 playoffs in late-July, Marchand was one of 31 Bruins invited to play in the Toronto quarantine "bubble". Despite Marchand scoring six goals in as many games during the 2020 playoffs, the Bruins fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. At the end of the season, Marchand was named the Bruins' Third Star, while his three-year streak of winning the Elizabeth Dufresne Trophy came to an end when the award went to Pastrňák. The NHL also named Marchand to their 2019–20 second All-Star team. On September 14, 2020, Marchand underwent a sports hernia surgery that carried an expected four-month recovery time, leaving it in question whether he would be available for the start of the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season. On January 7, 2021, Marchand was also named alternate captain of the Bruins, serving alongside
David Krejčí David Krejčí (, born 28 April 1986) is a Czech former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins. He was part of the Bruins' Stanley Cup win in 2011 and led the NHL in points durin ...
as Patrice Bergeron filled the captain vacancy left by Zdeno Chára after the latter left the Bruins and signed with the Washington Capitals in free agency. Marchand revealed that the sports hernia injury had been causing him pain for two and a half years, ended up on track to return to the Bruins at full strength for their January 14 home opener against the New Jersey Devils, in which he scored the team's first goal of the season on Devils' goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood and also recording an assist on a Nick Ritchie goal later on in the game as the Bruins won the game 3–2. On March 27, Marchand was placed on the NHL COVID protocol list, allowing young player
Trent Frederic Trent Frederic (born February 11, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Boston Bruins of the NHL. The Bruins selected Frederic in the first ...
a chance to occupy his position on the top line with Bergeron and Pastrňák. He returned after two missed games, revealing that a
false positive A false positive is an error in binary classification in which a test result incorrectly indicates the presence of a condition (such as a disease when the disease is not present), while a false negative is the opposite error, where the test resu ...
test had placed him on the list. By the end of the abbreviated season, Marchand played in 53 games and led the team with 29 goals and 40 assists for 63 points, as well as four shorthanded goals and five game-winning goals. He was the Bruins' First Star at their awards banquet, and also took home both his fourth Elizabeth Dufresne Trophy and second Eddie Shore Award. Marchand continued to score game-winning goals in the 2021 playoffs, first an overtime goal in Game 2 of the first round against the Washington Capitals, followed by another overtime shot in Game 3 of the second round, against the
New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...
. His Game 2 overtime goal was only 39 seconds into the period, breaking
Bobby Orr Robert Gordon Orr (born March 20, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time. Orr used his skating speed, scoring, and play-making abilities to revolutionize the ...
's 1970 record for the fastest overtime game-winning goal in Bruins postseason history. Orr scored 40 seconds into Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals against the St. Louis Blues, clinching the Bruins' fourth championship. Marchand scored two goals in the Bruins' Game 6 loss to the Islanders, tying with Peter McNab for the most goals in Bruins elimination games with nine. Although he finished fifth in Hart Trophy voting, with
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
forward and captain
Connor McDavid Connor Andrew McDavid (born January 13, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected first overall by the Oilers ...
as a unanimous first selection and winner, Marchand was named to the 2021 All-NHL First Team at the end of June. During the first home game of the Bruins' 2021–22 season on October 16, 2021, Marchand scored a goal on a penalty shot that he was awarded after
Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...
defenceman Ryan Suter was called for holding on an attempted Marchand breakaway. Marchand became the third player in NHL history to score the first goal of a team's season on a penalty shot, following
Mats Sundin Mats Johan Sundin (; born 13 February 1971) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL), retiring in 2009. Originally drafted List of NHL first overall draft choice ...
of the Toronto Maple Leafs in October 2006 and former Bruin teammate Chris Kelly for the Bruins in October 2013, respectively. On November 29, Marchand received the seventh suspension of his NHL career when he was penalized for three games after slew-footing
Oliver Ekman-Larsson Oliver Oscar Emanuel Ekman-Larsson (; born 17 July 1991) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Known by his initials "OEL", Ekman-Larsson was selected sixth overall by the ...
of the Vancouver Canucks. Marchand was not penalized during the game, and Ekman-Larsson was not injured. On December 14, Marchand and Craig Smith were placed into COVID-19 protocols. Four days later and amidst a larger team outbreak, the Boston Bruins' season was suspended through the annual Christmas break. Marchand was suspended for the second time that season and eighth time in his career on February 9, 2022, when he received a six-game ban for roughing and high-sticking goaltender Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the final minute of the game, which the Bruins lost 4–2, Jarry made a comment to Marchand, who responded by punching the goaltender in the head and hitting him with his stick, earning Marchand a match penalty, which are handed out when the officials deem an "intent to injure". In a press conference on February 11, Marchand said that he believed his actions were "stupid" but were not "suspension-worthy", and said he was considering appealing the suspension. Marchand underwent hip arthroscopy and labral repair on both hips right after the Bruins first round exit in the 2022 playoffs in May 2022 and was expected to miss six months, where he had a return table around late November of the 2022–23 season. He returned one month early of his initial plan, however, making his season debut on October 27, 2022, where he scored two goals and had an assist in a win against the Detroit Red Wings. Marchand contributed significantly to the Bruins' season that saw the team break the all-time record for wins (65) and points (135) in an NHL season. Despite missing nine games, Marchand finished second in points on the team with 67, scoring 21 goals and earning 46 assists in 73 contests. The team's season ended after the first round of the 2023 playoffs, however, as they lost to the eighth-seeded Florida Panthers in seven games after initially holding a 3–1 series lead. Marchand exited the playoffs with 10 points, tied with Tyler Bertuzzi for the most on the Bruins. With the retirements of both
David Krejčí David Krejčí (, born 28 April 1986) is a Czech former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins. He was part of the Bruins' Stanley Cup win in 2011 and led the NHL in points durin ...
and longtime linemate and close friend
Patrice Bergeron Patrice Bergeron-Cleary (born July 24, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre (ice hockey), centre who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Boston Bruins. He served as Captain (sports), team captain f ...
during the 2023 off-season, Marchand, along with
Milan Lucic Milan Lucic (; born June 7, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played major junior career with the Vancouver ...
(who returned to Boston in 2023 in free agency), became the last active players from the Stanley Cup-winning 2010–11 Bruins roster still playing for the team. On September 20, 2023, in advance of the 2023–24 season, Marchand was named
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
of the Bruins, succeeding the recently retired Patrice Bergeron. On November 18, Marchand recorded his 500th NHL assist on a Charlie McAvoy goal in a 5–2 victory over the
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
. On February 13, 2024, Marchand played his 1,000th NHL game in a 3–2 shootout loss to the
Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...
, becoming only the eighth player in Bruins history to play 1,000 games with the team. In the game, he recorded assists on both goals by Boston from Charlie McAvoy and
James van Riemsdyk James van Riemsdyk ( ; born May 4, 1989), often known by his initials JVR, is an American professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), left winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Between 2012 and 2018, he playe ...
, respectively. On April 4, Marchand recorded his 400th NHL goal in a 4–1 Bruins win over the
Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
on Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen to become the fifth player in Bruins history to reach the marker. He finished the season playing in all 82 games and recording 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points as the Bruins clinched the fourth seed in the East. With a two-goal performance in Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 playoffs against the
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
, Marchand tied
Cam Neely Cameron Michael Neely (born June 6, 1965) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He played right wing for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1983 to 1996. Neely was inducte ...
for most playoff goals in Bruins history, with 55. In Game 4, Marchand recorded his 56th career playoff goal to pass Neely for sole possession for most playoff goals in Bruins history. Marchand and the Bruins would defeat the fifth-seeded Maple Leafs in seven games. In the first period of Game 3 of the Bruins second round matchup against the second-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup champion
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
, Marchand was the target of a sucker punch hit by Sam Bennett. Marchand was injured on the play, and although he attempted to continue to play, he was later taken out of the game. Marchand missed Games 4 and 5 of the series as a result of the injury. There was no penalty called on Bennett during the play, as well as no disciplinary action by the NHL Department of Player Safety, raising concerns about the NHL's approach to the series. Many NHL personalities spoke out against the hit and the NHL response, such as former NHL referee Tim Peel, and former NHL players and current analysts Paul Bissonnette and Colby Armstrong, and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. Marchand would return for Game 6 of the series, but the Bruins would lose, and thus got eliminated by the Panthers for the second straight season, this time in the second round. On September 3, 2024, Marchand revealed he had undergone three separate surgeries earlier in the 2024 off-season to repair sports hernias in both his groin and abdomen, which he suffered towards the end of the 2023–24 season, along with a torn tendon in his elbow, which he first sustained in the 2023 off-season and which he played through the entire previous 2023–24 season. On October 26, 2024, in a 4–3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Marchand recorded the overtime winner and his first goal of the 2024–25 season with the goal on Maple Leafs' goaltender Anthony Stolarz. This would mark the 20th overtime winning goal for Marchand, making him the third player in NHL history to record at least 20 overtime winning goals throughout a career, joining
Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
forward and captain
Sidney Crosby Sidney Patrick Crosby (born August 7, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Sid the Kid" and dubb ...
and
Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
forward and captain
Alexander Ovechkin Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin (, ; born 17September 1985) is a Russian professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), left winger and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "the ...
.


Florida Panthers (2025–present)

On March 7, 2025, Marchand was traded to the
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
in exchange for a conditional 2027 second-round pick, and the Bruins retained 50 percent of Marchand’s contract. Due to an injury suffered against the
Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
one week prior, Marchand did not immediately play for the Panthers. He returned from injury a couple weeks later, and made his Panthers debut on March 28, where he assisted on the overtime game-winning goal against the Utah Hockey Club. Marchand scored his first playoff goal for the Panthers on May 7, the second Florida goal in a 4–3 loss to Toronto in game 2 of the second round of the playoffs. During the Panthers' series against the Maple Leafs, Marchand played in his 13th career game 7, tying him with Scott Stevens for the second all-time in NHL playoff history. It was also his fifth game 7 against the Maple Leafs. He scored two assists and an
empty net goal An empty net goal, abbreviated as EN or ENG and colloquially called an empty netter, occurs in several team sports when a team scores a goal into a net with no goaltender ''(goalie)'' present. Ice hockey Empty net goals usually occur on two occas ...
in a 6–1 victory over Toronto , which gave him his eighth career game 7 victory, tying him for first all-time. With the win, Marchand became the first player in NHL history to win five winner-take-all games over the same franchise, having beaten the Maple Leafs in a game 7 in 2013, 2018, 2019, and 2024 as well. Marchand scored a goal and an assist in five games in the Eastern Conference Final against the
Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
to return to the
Stanley Cup Finals The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, ) is the annual championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional spo ...
for the fourth time in his career. In the Finals against the
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
, in game two, Marchand scored on a shorthanded breakaway, then in double-overtime, scored the winner on another breakaway, to tie the series 1–1. The Panthers would go on to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup against the Oilers for Marchand's second career championship. Across 23 playoff games, Marchand recorded 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points, three game-winning goals, and a plus-minus of +17, tying for the 32nd highest plus-minus in a single playoff season. Marchand's performance made him a finalist for the
Conn Smythe Trophy The Conn Smythe Trophy () is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general manager, and head coach of the ...
as the playoff MVP but the award was ultimately given to teammate Sam Bennett.


International play

Marchand first competed internationally for the 2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a bronze medal with Team Canada Atlantic. As a prospect, Marchand went on to represent
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
twice at the
IIHF World Junior Championship The IIHF World Junior Championship (WJC), sometimes referred to as World Juniors, is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world. It is traditionally ...
: the 2007 WJC in
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
, and again at the 2008 WJC in the
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
. Both times, Canada took home a gold medal. After his performance in the 2007 World Juniors, Marchand was named one of four alternate captains for Canada in the 2008 tournament. As an adult, Marchand was one of three members of the Bruins to attend the 2016 IIHF World Championship in Russia: he represented Canada, while Pastrňák represented the Czech Republic and Providence Bruins skater Frank Vatrano played for Team USA. Canada took first place in the tournament after defeating the previously undefeated Finnish team in a gold medal match that saw Marchand fight Leo Komarov of the
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
. On May 27, 2016, Marchand was named to Team Canada's roster for the
2016 World Cup of Hockey The 2016 World Cup of Hockey (abbreviated WCH2016) was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the third installment of the National Hockey League (NHL)-sanctioned competition, 12 years after the second World Cup of Hockey in 2004. It was ...
, joined by his teammate Patrice Bergeron. During the tournament, he played on a line with Bergeron and
Sidney Crosby Sidney Patrick Crosby (born August 7, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Sid the Kid" and dubb ...
of the Penguins, combining for 25 points in six games. Marchand led the tournament with five goals and three assists. His short-handed goal against Team Europe in the World Cup finals clinched a gold medal for Canada, something that Marchand and his teammates hoped would establish the skater as a strong player rather than a pest. In 2025, Marchand was selected to represent Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off, a new round-robin competition organized by the NHL as a replacement for the annual All-Star Game. In the first game against
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
in Montreal on February 12, Marchand scored Canada's second goal in a 4–3 overtime victory. In the following game against the United States, Marchand would be designated an alternate captain of the team as
Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
defenseman
Cale Makar Cale Douglas Makar (born October 30, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains, alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected with the f ...
was ruled out of the fixture due to illness, though Canada would lose 3-1. Makar would return and reclaim the alternate captaincy for the following game, a must-win match against Finland, during which Marchand would fail to register a point despite a 5-3 Canadian victory. As a result of the game, Canada would qualify for the final, a rematch against the United States at Marchand's home arena with the Bruins,
TD Garden TD Garden (named the FleetCenter from opening until 2005 and TD Banknorth Garden until 2009) is a multi-purpose arena in Boston. It is located directly above the MBTA's North Station, and it replaced the original Boston Garden upon opening i ...
. Marchand would play a largely peripheral role during the match, playing on the fourth line, but generated a handful of excellent opportunities and was unlucky not to score. Canada would go on to win the game 3-2 in overtime, with Marchand playing a prominent role in the team's ensuing celebrations.


Playing style and criticism

Throughout his NHL career, Marchand has been characterized as a " pest", a hockey player who frustrates his opponents through physical or verbal attacks and annoyance. Marchand developed many of his agitation tactics from a young age: he knew that he was smaller than many of his opponents at only and , and subsequently developed a system of hits and trash talking that would give him an advantage over some of the larger players. Marchand has modelled his behaviour after that of Theo Fleury, a former pest who was able to leverage the frustration that he caused his opponents into offensive production. In March 2017, teammate
John-Michael Liles John-Michael Liles (born November 25, 1980) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins. In additi ...
described Marchand by saying "He's a guy that you hate playing against but you love having on your team ... He comes to the rink every day wanting to get better". In May 2019, teammate David Backes called the skater "the motor on he Bruins, while then-head coach Bruce Cassidy has noted that, although it may appear undisciplined, many of Marchand's tactics are calculated to get under the target's skin. Marchand's agitation tactics have drawn criticism from fans and opponents. A January 2020 poll of 392 players across the NHL declared Marchand the "dirtiest player in the league", receiving 29 per cent of the vote. In the same player poll by March 2020, Marchand was voted both the best and worst trash-talker in the NHL, with 25.87 per cent of players voting him as the league's best and 10.59 per cent voting him as the worst. When the Bruins visited the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
in January 2012 after their Stanley Cup victory seven months earlier,
President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
referred to Marchand as a "Little Ball of Hate", a nickname that he has since embraced. His other nicknames include "Rat", inherited from previous Bruins pest Ken Linseman, and "Leg Sweeper", for his frequent tactic of slew footing his opponents. In recent years, Marchand has tried to move past his reputation as an agitator and focus more on stats and productivity. While he first emerged in superstar like form in the 2011 playoffs en route to the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup championship with 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points in all 25 games before having his first break-out regular season in the 2011–12 season where he recorded 28 goals, 27 assists and 55 points in 76 games played, it wasn't until the 2015–16 season when he officially became a bonafide star for the Bruins and for the NHL when he scored 37 goals, 24 assists and 61 points in 77 games played. In September 2016, just before the 2016–17 season began, he helped win the gold medal for Canada at the World Cup of Hockey, cementing his reputation as a strong skater and goal scorer in addition to an agitator. Increased scrutiny from the NHL has also led Marchand to back away from some of his agitation: at the start of the 2017–18 season, Marchand told reporters that he and his teammates were limiting their "chirps" and other trash-talking comments to increase the family-friendly atmosphere of the NHL. After a series of suspensions in the 2017–18 season campaign followed by a highly publicized controversy over Marchand's decision to lick his opponents in the 2018 playoffs, the skater made a conscious effort to stay out of trouble during the 2018–19 season, citing a desire "to make sure the longevity is there, that I'm not getting pushed out of the League because of stupidity". Between 2018 and 2021, Marchand has become one of the top-scoring left wings in the NHL, with his 163 assists and 256 points the most of any skater in the position during the 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons combined. In the 2019 playoffs, he was also tied with
Ryan O'Reilly Ryan O'Reilly (born February 7, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains, alternate captain for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has prev ...
of the
St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
for league leader in points with 23 points recorded (nine goals, 14 assists) while O' Reilly recorded 23 points (eight goals and 15 assists) as the Bruins would lose to the Blues in seven games in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, falling one win short of a second Stanley Cup.


Personal life

Marchand and former Bruins teammate Kevan Miller, both avid
crossbow A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an Elasticity (physics), elastic launching device consisting of a Bow and arrow, bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar f ...
hunters, own an outdoor sports company called March & Mill Co. In November 2020, they purchased a sports outfitter lodge on
Beothuk Lake Beothuk Lake, formerly Red Indian Lake, is located in the interior of central Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The lake drains into the Exploits River which flows through the interior of New ...
in
Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...
, with the intention of offering hunting and fishing expeditions in the province. Marchand married his wife Katrina in September 2015. He has two daughters and a stepson.


Career statistics


Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league


International

Bold indicates led tournament


Awards, honors and records


Records

* Most overtime goals in Bruins history (16) * Most shorthanded goals in Bruins history (31) * Most goals in playoff elimination games in Bruins history (10) * Fastest postseason overtime goal in Bruins history (39 seconds) * First overtime penalty-shot goal in Bruins history (February 6, 2016) * Most suspensions in NHL history (eighth recorded on February 8, 2022) * Most playoff goals in Bruins history (56) * Oldest player to score in the first 3 games of a Stanley Cup Finals series.


See also

*
List of NHL players with 1,000 games played The National Hockey League (NHL) is the major professional ice hockey league which operates in Canada and the United States. Since its inception in , 408 players have played at least 1,000 regular season games, varying in amounts between Patri ...
* List of NHL players with 100-point seasons


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Marchand, Brad 1988 births Living people 21st-century Canadian sportsmen 4 Nations Face-Off players Boston Bruins captains Boston Bruins draft picks Boston Bruins players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Canadian ice hockey left wingers Florida Panthers players Halifax Mooseheads players Ice hockey people from Halifax, Nova Scotia Moncton Wildcats players National Hockey League All-Stars Providence Bruins players Stanley Cup champions Val-d'Or Foreurs players