Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins appears to have had three significant surgeries this off-season in addition to playing with three injuries during the previous season.
A few minutes ago, NHL writer Ty Anderson of NBC Sports Boston released a shocking revelation revealing that Bruins player Brad Marchand missed the whole previous season due to a significant elbow injury. Marchand added groin and stomach problems to his litany of ailments before the close of the regular season, as if that wasn’t already difficult enough.
Brad Marchand underwent three surgeries this past summer. Elbow (torn tendon), groin, and abdominal. Played through elbow injury all 2023-24, while other two injuries happened late in 2023-24 regular season.
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) September 3, 2024
Brad Marchand had three surgeries in the offseason to address all of the aforementioned injuries as a result of these persistent issues. Thus, the central subject that both fans and experts have been debating intensely is whether he will be ready to play when the new season begins in a few weeks.
However, the most recent rumors are that Brad Marchand will arrive in time for the season to begin, which will relieve a lot of pressure on the Bruins management and supporters. Marchand has been a key component of the team’s success, thus his return is crucial.
Brad Marchand LAID OUT Matthew Tkachuk 😳 pic.twitter.com/8xZQ7K6jK1
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 9, 2024
Brad Marchand had an incredible season last year despite having to play through injury. The Bruins selected him 71st overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, and he never missed a single regular-season game, playing in all 82 of them. He had 67 points total in them, including 29 goals and 38 assists. His reputation as one of the league’s hardest competitors was further solidified by his resilience and unwavering commitment to helping the club succeed.
"He gets calls… it's unbelieveable, actually… it's an art, he's elite at it."
Sheldon Keefe speaks on Brad Marchand's antics. pic.twitter.com/0HXbnrWOuJ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 25, 2024
One of the most talked-about things heading into the new season will be how well he recovers from his operation. There is little doubt that he will continue to dominate on the rink if his recuperation proceeds as smoothly as his performances have.
Brad Marchand will once again be the center of attention this season as he attempts to reach ever-higher heights and lead the Bruins to yet another successful campaign.
Brad Marchand on being back at the rink: “This is a fun time of year getting back to the rink and a lot of guys kind of coming back into town… good to see the new guys come in and the old guys come back, so it's nice.” pic.twitter.com/5QSZ29mzCM
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 3, 2024
Brad Marchand is on the ice for captains practice. pic.twitter.com/cIDsitGH69
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) September 3, 2024
Tyler Johnson Expands the Bruins’ Training Camp Roster with Depth Chargex.
Over the weekend, the Bruins struck gold when they signed seasoned forward Tyler Johnson to a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO).
The 34-year-old Johnson, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, played for the Chicago Blackhawks for the previous three seasons. In 67 games at the Madhouse on Madison the previous season, he scored 17 goals, 14 assists, and 31 points. In terms of scoring for the team, he came in fifth.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound forward with smooth skating is a very adaptable athlete who can play all three forward positions.
Experienced goal scorer with 738 NHL games under his belt between Chicago and Tampa Bay, the forward has tallied 193 goals, 238 assists, and 431 points with a plus-20 rating. With 32 goals and 65 points in 116 career Stanley Cup playoff games, he also possesses a great deal of playoff acumen.
In 2011, the Spokane, Washington native signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Johnson was a part of the renowned “Triplets Line,” which also included Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. Johnson helped lead the team to consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021.
On paper, Johnson’s addition seems like a masterstroke on the part of Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. For a price that was more than fair, he was able to purchase a proven high-impact talent.
It also gives Jim Montgomery, the coach of the Boston Bruins, a ton of intriguing alternatives as he starts training camp.
See also: Bruins Add Tyler Johnson to the PTO
Danton Heinen, who departed for Vancouver during the offseason as a free agent, is essentially replaced by Johnson. Johnson, though, poses a greater offensive danger than Heinen. On four separate times, he scored more than 20 goals, with a career-high 29 goals in 2018–19. Additionally, he still has the ability to score more than 40 points in an NHL season.
Johnson, a left-handed shooting wing/center, is capable of playing several different places in the Bruins lineup.
Johnson looks perfect for the Bruins checking line at first glance, skating alongside Trent Fredric and sophomore center Matthew Poitras.
His experience could have a soothing effect on Poitras, helping the young player grow, just like he helped Conor Bedard in Chicago the previous season. In the case that Poitras needs a little more NHL experience, he may also be used as center ice insurance.
Johnson could theoretically go to his off wing as well, covering for Jake DeBrusk, given his versatility. But there are already a lot of contenders for the second line right wing position, including powerful forward Justin Brazeau, veteran Morgan Geekie, and rookie Fabian Lysell.
Johnson is also a potent offensive weapon, scoring eight goals and sixteen points while having the man advantage in the previous campaign. To a club that could always use a little more firepower, it will undoubtedly be a welcomed addition.
