The Bruins entered the season down two of their best players in forward Brad Marchand and defenseman Charlie McAvoy. With two big voids left by these players, fans wondered how the team would start the season. The Bruins have kicked off the 2022-23 season with a bang as they have jumped out to a 6-1-0 start and have the best record in the NHL.
One strength the Bruins have displayed is their goal scoring, as they have been scoring at a high rate per game and have had 12 different players record a goal through seven games. Just when fans couldn’t imagine this offense getting even better, the Bruins gave an update on Brad Marchand’s updated return.
Marchand has been practicing with the team for over a week now as he works his way back from offseason hip surgery. He has been doing great in his rehab and should be back in the lineup before Thanksgiving.
Earlier today at practice, he was the first-line left wing next to Patrice Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk at practice Wednesday. He also spent time on the No. 1 power-play unit, per reporters who attended practice.
The original timetable for his return was after thanksgiving and most likely the beginning of December, but it has been moved up.
Montgomery and Marchand Speak to the Media
“I don’t expect him to play tomorrow, no,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after practice. “He’s ahead of schedule. He’s going to play before Thanksgiving. As you can tell, he’s starting to look good out there. His timing is starting to come.”
How does Marchand think he is progressing in practice?
“Getting closer, for sure,” Marchand said. “Every time I get out there with the full team and do the full team practices, it’s different. My timing and stuff is still off, but definitely every day getting closer.”
In regards to coming back sooner than anticipated, Marchand is going to rely on the advice of the medical staff.
“I would like to try to speed it up, but that’s out of my hands,” Marchand explained. “I’ll just let the trainers and doctors do their part.”
Thanks to the hot start by the Bruins, they are in a solid place and do not need to rush their star winger back in the lineup. The Bruins would much rather have him 100 percent from the beginning so he can maintain that status once playoffs come around. It’s not often teams have the luxury to be out one of their best players and still find success, but the Bruins are in full stride right out of the gates.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” Marchand said. “You want to be part of the team’s success, but it makes it very easy to take the time that I need to come back when the team’s winning the way it is. If we were 1-6, it would be a completely different story. … The fact that they’re winning, it makes it very easy to sit back and say don’t rush it, and take your time.
“We’re in it for the long haul, especially with the way the team looks. It’s very hard to watch any game, let alone when the team is cruising.”
The Bruins enter a tough stretch of their schedule starting next week as they hit the road for matchups against the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs before coming home for two games against the St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames. While there is no set date for Marchand’s return, expect it to be during this stretch, as he will officially have met the minimum requirements for being on LTIR and will be allowed to return.
