What is Brad Marchand looking for in his next Bruins linemate?
“Just because you’re a skilled guy doesn’t mean you’re gonna earn that spot because you can dangle through three guys.”
As chaotic as Brad Marchand’s on-ice persona has been over the previous 15 years, stability has largely been on his side in Boston when it comes to his linemates.
Largely stapled at the hip with Patrice Bergeron for most of his tenure in a black-and-gold sweater, the 2023-24 campaign marked the first time in over a decade where Marchand skated with a new pivot in Charlie Coyle.
A full slate of training-camp practices and preseason contests await, but the 36-year-old Marchand expects to open the 2024-25 season alongside Coyle once again.
“I thought we we came a long way last year and built some good chemistry, and it’s something that we can continue to work on,” Marchand said Tuesday following Boston’s first captains’ practice of the year at Warrior Ice Arena. “The longer you get to play with someone, obviously the more success you’re gonna have and the more familiar you’re gonna get with one another.”
But now, for the second straight season, Marchand will be looking for another regular linemate — this time on the wing, following the offseason departure of Jake DeBrusk.
As divisive as DeBrusk might have been to some Bruins fans due to his hot-and-cold scoring production, the speedy winger gelled next to Marchand for the past few seasons. DeBrusk’s growing two-way game made him far from a liability on a line anchored by Bergeron in 2022-23 and Coyle in 2023-24.
Over the past two seasons, the Bruins outscored opponents, 42-24, over the 873:46 of 5-on-5 ice time that Marchand and DeBrusk skated together
