Brad Marchand Ready to Embrace Captaincy while Staying True to Himself

BRIGHTON, Mass. – Brad Marchand sat at dinner at Sorellina with Cam Neely, Don Sweeney and Jim Montgomery, trudging through small talk until the trio would finally break the news.

“Monty told me that we were going to be going to dinner, and I was kind of hoping it was the conversation that I was hoping to have with them,” Marchand told reporters on Wednesday.

“But you never know, maybe they were trying to let me down easy.”

Neely, the Boston Bruins team president, soon confirmed what Marchand was anxiously waiting for. He is the 27th captain in franchise history.

“It means more to me than I think anyone will ever know to be able to wear a ‘C’ for this team,” Marchand said.

The winger, drafted by Boston in the third-round of the 2006 NHL Draft, has somewhat miraculously transformed into the veteran leader that’s prepared to guide the new-look Bruins into uncharted territory this season without former captain Patrice Bergeron.

Marchand’s feisty, fiery and fierce brand of hockey has been a cornerstone of his professional success, but he’s had to learn to balance his emotions throughout the past couple of years in order to be the player the Bruins need him to be.

“I think he’s realized, trying to find that fine line of being that player that he wants to be and controlling his emotions when he needs to,” Neely told reporters on Wednesday.

“We don’t want him to change his game because of it [captaincy]. He’s such a great player for us and his competitiveness makes him a great player. It was a long discussion about him not trying to be anybody that he isn’t.”

Marchand won’t be alone in navigating this new role; David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy were both named alternate captains, and to head coach Montgomery, it will be a collective effort.

“For the three of them, this is their team now. I think both of them [Pastrnak and McAvoy] are not only ready, but they’re looking forward to it,” Montgomery said on Wednesday.

“The support from the top trickling down, the trickle down effect here is great.”

Now 35 years old and entering his 15th season in the league, Marchand’s in a place that many –– including himself –– might not have initially imagined. But, none of it was given. The new captain decided what he wanted out of an NHL career and never let up on making it reality.

“He deserves a lot of credit for that. Carved out his own opportunities, playing the fourth line role and then realizing he’s going to be a Stanley Cup champion playing in a top-six role,” Sweeney, the Bruins general manager, said.

“He’s earned everything and he wants to take this next step.”

Streaks of what Marchand may be like with the ‘C’ beamed through during the first-round of the 2023 NHL playoffs when Bergeron was out with injury. Marchand took on the heightened responsibility while not allowing his game to drop. 

“We learned how it was kind of his room. I think people looked to him and he assumed it –– that’s what we learned there,” Montgomery said.

“But I would think over the course of a whole season last year, I learned that he’s more than capable. He’s going to be an excellent captain.”

It’s a near impossible task to replicate the work of a leader like Bergeron or Zdeno Chara –– and Marchand made it clear that’s not what he’s trying to do –– instead, he’ll aim to leave his own mark on the squad while carrying on the legacy of those before him.

“I really believe that I’ve witnessed two of the best leaders of all time, being in this organization and leading this team,” Marchand said. “There’s big shoes to fill and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

After a summer of speculation about who will be next on the B’s throne, the Marchand era has officially started.

“It was surreal, it almost felt weird to see the jersey,” Marchand said.

“As a 23-year-old, If I would have told myself I’d be captain one day, I definitely would not have bet a penny on that. It’s pretty incredible.”