Many Boston Bruins fans believe Brad Marchand’s career merits a future spot in the Hall of Fame, but what are his actual chances?
Peter Baugh and Eric Duhatschek from The Athletic suggest that Marchand is close to retiring and entering the Hall of Fame, but he’s not quite there yet.
Is this accurate?
Marchand is recognized as one of the top wingers of his generation, and his statistics support this. Although the 36-year-old isn’t often mentioned alongside top forwards like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, he deserves to be.
In the 2023-24 season alone, Marchand demonstrated that he can still compete with the best in the NHL, scoring 67 points with 29 goals and 38 assists over 82 games without missing a single match.
The previous season, he also scored 67 points despite missing nine games.
Marchand had his best season in 2018-19, recording 100 points with 36 goals and 64 assists.
While he has benefited from playing alongside strong teammates like former captain Patrice Bergeron, Marchand’s individual skill has established him as a top player. Over 15 seasons, he has amassed 929 points from 401 goals and 528 assists.
During the 2023-24 season, Marchand reached the 1,000-game milestone, sparking discussions about his Hall of Fame eligibility. Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery believed Marchand made a Hall of Fame case years ago.
“Maybe five years ago, just the way he started the offensive production and every year 95 points, every year a dominant player,” Montgomery told reporters in February, per team-provided video. “You had to be aware of him. Just a dominant player. Impacted every game.”
Despite being seen as an unlikeable player by many fans due to his reputation as a pest, Marchand has matured over his career, though he still engages in fights occasionally.
After 14 seasons with the Bruins, Marchand was named team captain following Bergeron’s retirement. This decision was widely supported due to the respect he had earned from fans, staff, and players.
As he has aged, Marchand has shown no signs of slowing down, consistently scoring over 35 points in 14 seasons, with over 60 points in the last nine seasons.
“The ultimate recognition for a player is to be in the Hall of Fame,” Marchand told reporters in February, per team-provided video. “Is it achievable? I don’t know. I see the amount of time I feel like I can still play. I don’t know what it takes to get there. I’m going to play every single day, come to the rink every day, and try to get better and play as long as I can. If it happens, it happens. It’s not so much a goal, as it’d be a dream come true.”
For Marchand, maintaining his consistency with 60-plus point seasons and staying healthy is crucial.
Leading the Bruins to a Stanley Cup win would bolster his Hall of Fame candidacy. Although he has a championship ring from 2011, a season where he scored 41 points as a 23-year-old, he wasn’t yet seen as a leader.
Marchand has led the Bruins to many successful seasons, including the record-breaking 2022-23 season with 65 regular-season wins. Another Stanley Cup would solidify his Hall of Fame status.
Even without another ring, Marchand has built a strong Hall of Fame case. If not a first-ballot inductee, he should eventually be honored in Toronto after retiring.
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