SUNRISE, Fla. — Brad Marchand arrived in the collective consciousness of the North American hockey-watching public a dozen years ago. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, he was an impactful player, notching 11-8-19 totals in 25 games. But it was in the highly contentious Final against the Vancouver Canucks that he really made a name for himself, most notably with a post-whistle speed-bagging of Daniel Sedin’s head.
This is a much different Brad Marchand we are seeing today.
In the absence of captain Patrice Bergeron in this playoff series against the Florida Panthers, and in Game 3 David Krejci as well, Marchand has led not only with his play on the ice but also his restraint against a team that is attempting get him off his game with physicality.