Brad Marchand (born 11.5.1988) is a Canadian ice hockey winger. He has played all his career with the Boston Bruins (2009 – today). He is currently an alternate captain of the Bruins. Marchand is well known with his abrasive playstyle and he often gets under the skin of his opponents – that’s why he has given the nickname “The Rat”.

Early Career

After his minor league years, Brad Marchand was selected at second round in 2004 QMJHL Midge Draft by Monton Wildcats. His first season with the Wildcats was 2004-05 and he made 29 (20+9) points in 61 games as a rookie. Next season (2005-06) was breakthrough season to Marchand, he made 66 (29+37) points in 68 games and 19 (5+14) points in QMJHL playoffs – Monton Wildcats was this season QMJHL champion. Next season (2006-07) Marchand moved to the another QMJHL team – Val-d’Or Foreurs. He played one and half season with Val-d’Or Foreurs and moved middle of the 2007-08 season to the Halifax Mooseheads in QMJHL. In the 2006 NHL draft, Brad Marchand was selected 71st overall by Boston Bruins.

Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand played season 2008-09 with Providence Bruins in AHL. He made 59 (18+41) points in 79 games. On 21.10.2009, Marchand made his NHL debut against Nashville Predators, but he played only 20 NHL games in his second season with the Bruins. In 2010-11 season, Marchand played his first full season with the Bruins. He made 41 (21+20) points in 77 regular season games. Marchand scored 19 (11+8) points in 2011 NHL playoffs and helped the Bruins won Stanley Cup championship.

On 14.9.2011, Bruins re-signed Marchand to a two-year contract extension. Marchand continued to be productive, but at the same time his reputation for dirty tricks and trash talking grow. On March 2011, he got two-game suspension for elbowing R.J Umberger. On December 2011, he got 2500$ fine for slew footing Matt Niskanen. On January 2012, he got five-game suspension for a hit on Sami Salo and list continued. Marchand was voted the “dirtiest” player in the league by fellow NHL players according to 2020 poll.

Despite that, Marchand’s scoring ability is still there. He has now made over 80 points in regular season, four times in row. In 2018-19 season, he made 100 (36+64) points and became the tenth Bruins player in team history to score at least 100 points in regular season. In 2019-20 season, Brad Marchand scored 87 (59+28) point in 70 regular season games.

International Play

Brad Marchand won a gold medal at the 2007 and 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Marchand was selected for Canada’s team in the 2016 IIHF World Championship and he and Team Canada won gold medals. Marchand was part of Team Canada in World Cup of Hockey 2016 – Canada won that tournament.