PLYMOUTH, Mass. – Brad Marchand is set to return to the ice this week, nearly four months removed from a successful hip arthroscopy and labral repair on both hips.
The Bruins’ top-line left winger, speaking at the 19th Annual Boston Bruins Foundation Golf Tournament on Thursday morning at Pinehills Golf Club, said he will be back on the ice for a light skate on Friday at Warrior Ice Arena.
“First day. But it’s pretty much like learning how to skate again,” said Marchand, who did not participate in the golf tournament. “Very light for this next little while and then hopefully progress each week.”
Marchand added that he’s eyeing a return around late November, sometime after American Thanksgiving.
“I think it’s around there, the end of the month – the last few days of November is kind of the target date. It’s about six months, around there,” said Marchand.
The 34-year-old is recovering from his second offseason surgery in the last two years, having also undergone a sports hernia repair in September 2020 following Boston’s postseason exit from the bubble in Toronto. Marchand said that this time around, the recovery has been much more intensive.
“I had surgery a few years ago on my abs and my groin that was similar, but I feel like I was able to start doing more stuff quicker with that,” said Marchand, who only missed three games during the pandemic-shortened 2020- 21 seasons. “This was definitely longer. I’ve never skated for four months…it’s gonna take a little bit to get back.”
Marchand was on crutches for two to three weeks following the hip procedure back in May and was only able to resume physical activity after about six weeks.
“I was pretty good to walk around, just couldn’t do anything else,” said Marchand. “It was a pretty slow couple months. After six weeks I could start doing a little rehab and then after two months a little bit more, three months I could start lightly training my upper body.”
Following the B’s first-round exit to Carolina last spring, Marchand opted to undergo the surgery knowing that he’d have some extra time for his recovery process. The injury itself, he explained, came into focus after his 2020 hernia procedure when he continued to be hampered on the ice.
“It’s been a few years. It was kind of masked a little with my ab and groin surgery,” said Marchand. “Once I got that done, I had issues all over the place, the hip issue they realized there was a little more to it. Then it was more just about figuring out how to do it. What it came down to was trying to get as many years out of my body as I could and to do that, I had to do it sooner than later. That’s why we did it this year.
“And we finished earlier than we thought we were going to. I thought we were gonna make a further run last year, so I didn’t plan on doing it. When we finished early, it was a good time to do it. Camp’s a little bit later this year as well. Thought it made sense to do.”
Marchand, however, will still be watching from the sidelines for much of the first six weeks of the regular season, a period that will, no doubt, be agonizing for the winger who has never missed more than 14 games in any of his 13 NHL appearances. campaigns.
“It will be tough, but I think we’re in a good spot as a team,” said Marchand. “I think the toughest thing would be if the team wasn’t winning or doing well, then that would be really crappy. But I don’t think that’s gonna be the case. I think we’re gonna have a really good start. The guys look really good right now – hoping that they put a really good push on.
“And that’s typically the way we look at it. If you’re in a playoff position by Thanksgiving, typically you can hold that for the rest of the year. Obviously, things can happen…it’s gonna be tough, but it’s about the long game and hopefully I’ll feel good for the rest of the year and make a good push at the end.”
Whenever Marchand returns, he’ll have his longtime centerman back alongside Patrice Bergeron deciding to return for a 19th season, a development that he was quite pleased to find out about over the summer.
“I was thrilled. That was a good day. Had a couple drinks that night,” Marchand joked, while adding that Bergeron gave him a heads up about his return before it became public. “Very, very thrilled about that. He’s a player that you can’t duplicate. We’ll never have another one around here of that caliber. I hope we do. But he’s such a special player and gives us a big opportunity this year. .
“Same with [David Krejci]…having both of them back in the middle makes us really deep there. I’m excited to have them both back. When that time does come [that Bergeron and Krejci are gone]it’s gonna be a big change for the group…I don’t think anyone is looking forward to that.”
With Marchand sidelined, newcomer Pavel Zacha could get the first crack at riding alongside Bergeron on Boston’s top line. Marchand’s advice for success in that spot?
“Just get open and you don’t have to back check. He’ll do that for you,” Marchand quipped. “He’s gonna get so many pucks back, that’s one thing Bergy is so good at is creating opportunities from his position. Pucks always bounce off his stick or his skates.
“You have to be ready all the time when your team doesn’t have it because he creates so many turnovers. Zacha’s gonna be fine. He’s a great player, very smart. Just from playing against him positionally, similar to Bergy the way that he can read the ice…he’s gonna fit in great with that group.”
More notes from Marchand’s meeting with the media in Plymouth:
On his interactions with new coach Jim Montgomery…
“It’s been very positive. Really outgoing and personable… haven’t seen him on the ice yet; that’s where things matter, in the room and on the ice. Every coach for the most part is pretty good 1-on-1 and in the room and stuff. Look forward to seeing him in action. But from what I’ve heard from guys that have played with him, played for him, and played under him, there’s nothing but great things to say. Looking forward to getting out there with him.”
On David Pastrnak‘s ongoing contract negotiations…
“The team wants to get it done and has been very vocal about that. It’s something that we obviously want to happen, but we don’t need to add pressure…if he wants to bring it up, that’s kind of how you leave it.” If he wants to bring it up. Then happy to talk about it. If not, give him the space. We all have to go through it. They’re stressful times. You don’t need guys adding to that stress level… we just need him to score goals for us, we don’t need to throw him off.”
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