A report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested that there were several players who are “hanging on by a thread” physically, with fears that "there's a couple cases out there" who could be shutdown following the tournament. It's unclear whether Brad Marchand is one of these players.
MILAN - From an injury perspective, we still don’t know what exactly Brad Marchand has been dealing with during these Olympics. But after missing the past two games, Team Canada coach Jon Cooper said Marchand will be ready to play in the quarter-final on Wednesday.
“Listen, he’ll be in the quarters. He’s going to play there,” said Cooper, who previously said Marchand would be in the lineup against France on Sunday. “In the end, we want to make sure everybody’s 100%. We thought this was a game where if we didn’t have to play him, we didn’t need to.”
So, he’s dealing with something?
“He was,” said Cooper. “Not anymore.”
Marchand played on the fourth line in Canada’s 5-0 win against Czechia last Thursday, where he had an assist and two shots in 9:29 of ice time. But he was replaced in the lineup the following day by Seth Jarvis in Canada’s 5-1 win against Switzerland.
On Sunday, he took part in the morning skate but was held out in the 10-2 win against France that completed the round robin portion of the tournament.
Team Canada did not practice on Monday. Their next practice will be on Tuesday.
Prior to the Olympics, Marchand had been in-and-out of the Florida Panthers’ lineup in January while battling an undisclosed injury, sparking fear that he might miss the Olympics. A report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested that there were several players who are “hanging on by a thread” physically, with fears that "there's a couple cases out there" who could be shutdown following the tournament.
Whether Marchand is one of those players is not yet known. But considering how long the 37-year-old has waited for this moment, it's likely to assume that he won't let an injury stand in his way.
"It's been unbelievable," said Marchand, who was a member of the Canadian teams that won at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 4 Nations Face-Off. "I think I'm annoying guys with how many pictures I've taken and making them take. Just trying to take in every moment and enjoy it all.
"It's something that I've been very vocal about for a long time, just wanting to do this and be part of this. I feel like players have earned the right and the opportunity to be here. It's great that guys are back.
"I just think the last few years — and especially with how last year played out — I have such a newfound sense of gratitude for every day in the National Hockey League and for moments like this. I'm just enjoying it."