Bruins Centennial ready for takeoff with motivated core

BOSTON – Brad Marchand strutted down the runway and struck a pose, hockey stick atop his shoulders, in front of the adoring crowd at the Boston Bruins’ “Centennial Takeoff” fashion show on Saturday night.

The winger has played many roles in his NHL career, now including model, but all are curious if a ‘C’ will soon be stitched onto the 100th anniversary jerseys that Marchand –– along with Brandon Carlo and Milan Lucic –– modeled for their debut.

“It would be cool, but it’s not something I’m really focussed on. I don’t need to wear a letter to be a leader. I know my place in this team and I know what I do and where my value is,” Marchand said to reporters at the Logan Airport jetBlue Hangar following the fashion show.

It’s the answer you would expect, but as the Bruins enter a new era of franchise history, Marchand is going to have a heightened responsibility with the letter or not.

Team president Cam Neely said he, general manager Don Sweeney and head coach Jim Montgomery have had continuous conversations about what they want in their next captain.

“First and foremost, you want someone that comes to play hard and work hard every day,” Neely said to reporters Saturday.

“We’ve seen that for captains from Ray [Bourque] to [Zdeno] Chara to ‘Bergy’ where they’re the hardest working guys on the ice. There’s no better way to lead than by showing, so that’s probably a priority.”

Neely said he’s hoping to get the decision “buttoned up soon.”

Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci’s retirements this offseason, beyond their implications on the ice, have left room for the remaining core to step up, lead and nurture the team identity built over the last ten plus years.

“I think it’s our responsibility to take everything that they’ve taught us and carry it on. And as well, just add new things of our own brand,” Carlo, who sported the new centennial black and gold home jersey, said.

“‘Bergy’ was always a comfort zone for us. It was nice to have him around camp and always felt like that veteran presence was there and handling things, but it’s great to get to this point in your career where you have to step up and you want more responsibility.”

Carlo, along with players like Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha and Hampus Lindholm are at a potential turning point in their careers as the tenured, experienced Bruins on a roster that quickly got younger over the summer.

“With guys like that that have had to kind of pay their dues and earn their time, you know they’re always ready for that moment,” Marchand said.“I expect them to take full ownership of that and kind of thrive with the opportunity they’re given.”

The allure of the centennial season is also not missed on the Bruins group as it, and the fans, reflect on the past and prepare for the future.

The 2023-24 season would be remembered even without an anniversary to celebrate –– it’s the year the B’s prove, or don’t prove, that they can put out a competitive on-ice product without their top-talent vets –– but the fact that this season’s roster will be etched in history as “the centennial team” adds extra purpose.

“Especially being the 100th year, the centennial year, it’s pretty special. I think with ‘Bergy’ and ‘Krech’ retiring, not to get kind of sentimental, but you realize how quick it goes and how close we’re kind of getting to that line as well,” Marchand said.

“These moments may not seem big, but they are, and they’re things I’ll remember forever.”