Bruins head coach Joe Sacco introduced that left-winger Brad Marchand is out week-to-week with an upper-body damage (through Joe Haggerty of the Boston Sports Journal). The captain missed Sunday’s loss to the Wild after exiting the prior day’s sport towards the Penguins within the first interval following an enormous hit from defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph. He has not been positioned on injured reserve however might be forward of Thursday’s street sport towards the Hurricanes to permit Boston to hold an additional ahead.
The growing old star has been remarkably sturdy over the previous few seasons, solely lacking a handful of video games since offseason hip surgical procedure ate into the start of his 2022-23 marketing campaign. He’d additionally been on a sizzling streak coming into the sport towards Pittsburgh, totaling 4-6–10 in his final 10 video games. The damage designation comes simply three days forward of the commerce deadline, however whereas Marchand is on an expiring contract, he doesn’t want to be moved and isn’t among the many increasing group of gamers Boston is listening to commerce gives for, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reviews.
After all, his damage additionally restricted the Bruins’ minimal chance of gaining floor within the Jap Convention playoff race. They’ve gone 1-2-2 popping out of the 4 Nations break, and whereas they solely sit two factors again of the Crimson Wings for the second wild card spot, there’s three groups between them and Detroit. They’ve additionally performed extra video games than the groups they’re chasing. As such, their playoff odds have dropped to 9.4%, per MoneyPuck.
General, this season has evidenced the 36-year-old’s gradual however noticeable decline. With 21-26–47 in 61 video games, he’s on tempo for his lowest offensive output for the reason that 2014-15 season. The group’s general struggles to generate scoring probabilities this yr additionally imply Marchand is on monitor to publish a minus ranking for the primary time since his preliminary 20-game trial in Boston in 2009-10. Nonetheless, he’s been one of the best ahead Boston has to supply exterior of star David Pastrňák, nonetheless considerably outpacing its different top-six names like Charlie Coyle, Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha.
With Marchand and Trent Frederic each on the shelf for the time being and the latter anticipated to be moved earlier than Friday’s deadline, recent call-up Georgii Merkulov will get the chance to fill their top-six gap. The 24-year-old has only one help in 9 profession NHL video games however is tied for second on AHL Windfall in scoring with 44 factors in 47 video games.
