Brad Marchand

Although he turned 33 during the 2020-21 campaign, Marchand just kept on producing for the Bruins and for fantasy managers, logging his fifth straight season of well over a point per game. Marchand finished third in the NHL scoring race with 69 points in 53 contests, and his 29 goals topped his 2019-20 total despite his playing in 17 fewer games. His goal-scoring rate was boosted by a career-high shooting percentage (20.3) that will likely regress, but Marchand should still be a safe bet for a seventh straight 20-goal campaign. On top of his consistency - he went back-to-back games without a point only twice all year -- Marchand also provides fantasy managers with a healthy dose of penalty minutes (46 in 2020-21). Playing on one of the NHL's most prolific lines with Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, Marchand remains an upper-echelon fantasy option.

Marchand took a miniscule step backwards in terms of his overall production last season, but he was still an elite fantasy option, ending the Bruins 70-game regular season with 28 goals, 59 assists, a plus-25 rating, 82 PIM, 185 shots on goal and 28 power-play points. The 32-year-old winger is expected to be sidelined until mid-January after undergoing sports hernia surgery in October, but that should hardly impact his perceived fantasy value, as although there's slight potential for a slow start upon his return, he'll only miss a handful of games at the start of the campaign, and that's assuming the NHL is able to open its season on its target date of Jan. 1. The Bruins' championship window may begin to close over the next few seasons, but Marchand will remain a top-five option at his position for the foreseeable future, and that's in large part due to the fact that he'll continue to skate on arguably the league's best line alongside Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.

Marchand is coming off an outstanding 2018-19 campaign in which he logged 36 goals and a career-high 100 points in 79 regular-season games. At this stage of his career, Marchand still plays with plenty of snarl, but the 31-year-old has managed to curb his close-to-the-edge style of play ever-so-slightly in acknowledgment of the fact that he can't help his team while suspended. The 5-foot-9, 181 pounder's calling cards are relentless puck pursuit, shifty wheels and deft hands. Heading into the 2019-20 season, he's once again slated to skate on the Bruins' top line, which is centered by two-way stalwart Patrice Bergeron. The pair have been working together for years now and boast first-rate chemistry, regardless of who patrols their right wing. It's a context that continues to make Marchand a top-notch fantasy option at the left wing position.

Though the end of Marchand's outstanding 2017-18 campaign was marred by some regrettable on-ice conduct, the 5-foot-9, 181-pounder played at an elite level during the regular season, racking up 34 goals and 85 points in 68 games while manning the left wing of the Bruins' top line. The 30-year-old's close-to-the-edge style of play continues to make him very difficult to compete against, but he does tend to occasionally cross the line. With a growing list of transgressions to his name, Marchand figures to head into the coming season on the continued radar of the NHL's disciplinarians. As such, he's one sketchy move away from his next suspension, but as long as he can stay on the ice, Marchand will remain a top-flight producer in both real and fantasy terms, thanks to a skill set that features shifty wheels, relentless puck pursuit and quick hands.

Marchand built on the prior season’s breakout by logging career highs across the board in 2016-17, netting 39 goals and 85 points in 80 games. While the evolution of Marchand’s offensive game has elevated him to elite fantasy status, he hasn't exactly mellowed with age. Set to turn 30 next May, he’s been suspended by the NHL on five separate occasions, including a two-game ban late last season; it’s less than ideal that he’s now viewed as a repeat offender. Still, it’s Marchand’s close-to-the-edge style of play that continues to make the feisty left winger so difficult to compete against. His reputation as an on-ice pest is well earned, but it’s offset by the 5-foot-9, 181-pounder’s relentless puck pursuit, shifty wheels and deft hands. Marchand is once again slated to remain on the Bruins’ top line flanking elite two-way center Patrice Bergeron, and that duo’s outstanding chemistry should lead to another highly productive campaign for both of them.

Marchand completed the 2015-16 season with a team-high 37 goals and 61 points to go along with a plus-21 rating (also a team high) in 77 games. Only two NHL left wingers (Alex Ovechkin and Jamie Benn) found the back of the net more than Marchand did last season. The 28-year-old, who recorded 90 PIM last season, has been suspended on four separate occasions by the NHL for crossing the line in the eyes of the league, but it’s Marchand’s close-to-the-edge style of play that continues to make him a very difficult individual to play against. At times, his reputation as an on-ice pest has overshadowed his dynamic skills, but Marchand’s relentless puck pursuit is complemented by a set of shifty wheels and good hands. While the Bruins’ 2015-16 campaign ended in disappointing fashion, the tireless Marchand is one player who consistently gave the team its money’s worth all season long. Speaking of money’s worth, Marchand has one year left on his current deal with the Bruins and keeping him around for the long haul is viewed as an organizational priority. Heading into the coming season, Marchand is slated to remain on a line with elite two-way pivot Patrice Bergeron, an arrangement that foreshadows another productive year for the two, who finished No. 1 (Bergeron’s, 282) and No. 2 (Marchand, 250) on the team in the shots on goal department.

Following a tumultuous offseason that featured a major talent turnover in the Bruins’ lineup, Marchand remains in the mix, on the heels of a 2014-15 season in which he notched a team-high 24 goals to go along with 42 points and 95 PIM in 77 games. Marchand recorded a plus-5 rating in the process, down from his spiffy mark of plus-36 in 2013-14, but that stat is generally reflective of an overall dip in efficiency team-wide compared to a season earlier, with the Bruins seeing their goal differential drop from plus-84 to plus-2. While the 27-year-old left winger continues to gain experience and mature as a pro, he still profiles as a pesky and energetic agitator whose on-the-edge playing style often infuriates opponents. When he is on, relentless puck pursuit is Marchand's calling card. He also boasts a good offensive skill set, featuring shifty wheels and good hands. Moreover, while Marchand’s style occasionally lands him in hot water with the Department of Player Safety, he tends to draw his share of penalties in spite of the fact that NHL referees aren’t always inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. But even though the effort and compete level were largely there last season, Marchand was streaky at times, and the Bruins would love to see him display added consistency moving forward, especially with fellow left winger Milan Lucic no longer around. Working in Marchand’s favor is that he’s slated to remain on a line with superb two-way center Patrice Bergeron, though it’s uncertain who will man the right side of the trio following this summer's trade of Reilly Smith. Furthermore, considering all the team’s changes up front, it’s plausible that Marchand could see added power-play action this year, though such a potential outcome has yet to be solidified.

Marchand posted 53 points and a plus-36 rating in 82 games last season while manning left wing on the Bruins’ second line, which is centered by Patrice Bergeron. Entering his fifth full season with the B’s, Marchand remains a pesky and energetic agitator whose on-the-edge playing style can infuriate opponents, but is buoyed by his relentless puck pursuit and a good offensive skillset. If Marchand can gain a tad more consistency, and perhaps see added action on the Bruins’ power play, he could see a modest bump in production this season.

Marchand, who led the Bruins with 18 goals and 36 points in 45 regular season games, is a feisty agitator whose on-the-edge game features relentless puck pursuit and good offensive instincts. If Marchand can gain a tad more consistency, 70-75 points are within reach for the speedy left winger, who is projected to skate on a line with star center Patrice Bergeron and newcomer Loui Eriksson.

The energetic Marchand, who racked up 55 points (including 28 goals) and 87 PIMs in 76 games to go along with a tidy plus-31 rating in 2011-12, has, aside from earning a rep as a pesky agitator on the ice, developed into a nice fantasy left winger. That is, when he stays out of trouble with the league. Marchand plays on the edge, and sometimes crosses the line, but when he keeps his cool he boasts a solid all-around game, featuring relentless puck pursuit and good offensive instincts. If Marchand can achieve a bit more consistency, 70-75 points are within reach for the diminutive winger.

The B's feisty rookie forward finished the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 11 goals and eight assists in 25 games and was a force throughout the Stanley Final. Marchand was productive enough in the regular season, scoring 21 goals and 41 points overall, but after seeing the show he put on in the postseason, it's fair to expect more from him in 2011-12. Either way, he's a relentless bundle of energy, who agitates opponents and lifts his teammates. At press time he was a restricted free agent, but he's been clear on his desire to remain in Boston and the Bruins would be foolish not to re-sign their sparkplug for the long haul.

Marchand will be looking to win a steady job with the B's in his third pro season after playing 20 games in Boston last year. He only notched one assist in his stint with the big club, but he's a scrappy player, who is not without some upside on offense, as his 32 points in 34 games with AHL Providence illustrates. His best chance to stick with the Bruins out of camp is to win a spot on the team's energy line, a job that he has a chance to win, but one that doesn't carry much fantasy weight.

Marchand, who projects as a gritty agitator with a little scoring upside, could make a strong case to crack the Bruins' opening roster. Even if he doesn't, he'll be among the team's first call-ups once injuries hit.

The undersized winger will most likely spend the year in Providence, but his non-stop motor could propel him to the B's in time.