Brad Marchand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brad Marchand
Marchand with the Boston Bruins in March 2016
Born	(1988-05-11) May 11, 1988 (age 37) Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Florida Panthers Boston Bruins
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	71st overall, 2006 Boston Bruins
Playing career	2008–present

Bradley Kevin Marchand (born May 11, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who plays for the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was chosen by the Boston Bruins in the third round of the 2006 NHL entry draft.

Marchand grew up in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, where his parents were both hockey coaches. He played for three different junior hockey teams before the Bruins drafted him in 2006. He started his professional career with the Providence Bruins in 2008 before making his NHL debut with Boston in 2009.

In 2011, Marchand helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup. He also helped them reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2013 and 2019. During his time with the Bruins, he became known for scoring many goals and for being a pest who annoyed his opponents. This led to many fines and suspensions from the league. By 2022, he had been suspended more times than any other player in NHL history. After being traded to the Florida Panthers, Marchand won his second Stanley Cup in 2025.

Marchand has also played for Team Canada, winning the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the Four Nations Face-Off in 2025.

Early life

Marchand was born on May 11, 1988, in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, a town near Halifax. He was the oldest of four children. His father, Kevin, was a very physical player in his own junior hockey days. He taught his children how to be tough but also skilled at the game.

Marchand started playing hockey when he was only two years old. He had a lot of energy and developed an aggressive style of play. When he was a teenager, he learned to control his temper with help from anger management classes and a sport psychologist.

He grew up playing with his close friend Andrew Bodnarchuk, who also became an NHL player. Even in minor hockey, Marchand was known for getting penalties and getting under the skin of his opponents.

Playing career

Junior hockey career

Marchand playing for the Halifax Mooseheads in January 2008

In 2004, the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) drafted Marchand. He had a great first season and was named the team's Rookie of the Year. The next season, under coach Ted Nolan, Marchand scored 66 points and helped the Wildcats win the league championship. They lost in the Memorial Cup final, but the Boston Bruins had noticed his talent. They traded up in the 2006 NHL entry draft to select him.

Marchand was later traded to the Val-d'Or Foreurs, where he continued to score many points. In the 2007 playoffs, he led the league with 40 points in 20 games. In 2007, he was traded again, this time to his hometown team, the Halifax Mooseheads. He was excited to play with his childhood friends. After his junior career ended, the Bruins told him to get ready for their professional training camp.

Starting in the pros

Marchand with the Providence Bruins in November 2008

Marchand spent the 2008–09 season with the Providence Bruins, Boston's team in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was one of the top rookies in the league, scoring 59 points in 79 games.

He started the next season in Providence but was soon called up to the NHL. He made his debut with the Boston Bruins on October 21, 2009. He played 20 games with Boston that season but only had one assist.

Boston Bruins (2009–2025)

Winning the Stanley Cup

Marchand in June 2011 at the 2011 Stanley Cup victory parade in Downtown Boston

In the 2010–11 season, Marchand earned a full-time spot on the Bruins' fourth line. He scored his first NHL goal on November 3, 2010. He finished the season with 21 goals and 41 points. Fans voted him for the team's Seventh Player Award for playing better than expected.

During the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was moved up to the first line with stars Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi. He played a huge role in the playoffs, scoring 11 goals. In the Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks, he scored two goals in the final Game 7 to help the Bruins win the championship. It was Boston's first Stanley Cup since 1972.

Becoming a star player

Marchand with the Boston Bruins in February 2012

After winning the Cup, Marchand signed a new two-year contract. He continued to develop his reputation as a "pest" who annoyed opponents. He was fined and suspended for illegal hits during the 2011–12 season. Still, he scored 28 goals and had a career-high 55 points.

In 2013, Marchand and the Bruins returned to the Stanley Cup Final but lost to the Chicago Blackhawks. Over the next few seasons, Marchand became one of Boston's best players. He struggled at times but always worked hard. In 2014, he won the team's Eddie Shore Award for his hustle and determination.

By the 2015–16 season, Marchand was a top goal-scorer, finishing with a career-high 37 goals. He won the Seventh Player Award for a second time.

The "Perfection Line" and controversies

Marchand with the Bruins in October 2013

In 2016, Marchand signed a big eight-year contract extension. He was selected for his first NHL All-Star Game in 2017 and finished the season with 85 points. He was named to the NHL First All-Star Team.

He formed a famous line with Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrňák, which became known as the "Perfection Line." However, his on-ice actions often got him into trouble. In 2018, he was suspended for five games for an illegal hit. During the playoffs that year, the NHL warned him to stop licking and kissing opponents, calling the behavior "unacceptable."

Despite the controversies, he continued to produce. In the 2018–19 season, he scored 100 points for the first time in his career. The Bruins made it to the Stanley Cup Final again but lost to the St. Louis Blues.

Captain of the Bruins

Marchand skating against Carson Soucy in February 2023

Marchand continued to be a top player in the league. In the 2020–21 season, he was named an alternate captain. He led the Bruins in scoring and was again named to the NHL First All-Star Team.

In the 2021–22 season, he was suspended twice, making him the most suspended player in NHL history. The next season, the Bruins had a historic year, setting records for the most wins and points in a single season. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

After Patrice Bergeron retired in 2023, Marchand was named the new captain of the Bruins. In February 2024, he played in his 1,000th NHL game. He also scored his 400th career goal that season.

Florida Panthers (2025–present)

Marchand with the Florida Panthers in April 2025

On March 7, 2025, after 15 seasons with Boston, Marchand was traded to the Florida Panthers. He joined the defending Stanley Cup champions and quickly became an important player.

He helped the Panthers reach the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. In the finals, he scored key goals, including a double-overtime winner in Game 2. The Panthers won the series, giving Marchand his second Stanley Cup championship. He was a finalist for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

On July 1, 2025, he signed a new six-year contract to stay with the Panthers.

International play

Marchand has often represented Canada in international tournaments. He won two gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2007 and 2008.

As a professional, he helped Canada win the 2016 IIHF World Championship. Later that year, he played on a line with Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He led the tournament in goals and helped Canada win the championship.

In 2025, he was part of the Canadian team that won the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Personal life

Marchand owns an outdoor sports company with his former teammate Kevan Miller. They offer hunting and fishing trips in Newfoundland.

He married his wife Katrina in 2015. He has two daughters and a stepson.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

International

Bold indicates led tournament

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005	Canada Atlantic	U17			6	5	6	11	10
2005	Canada	U18			5	2	2	4	16
2007	Canada	WJC			6	2	0	2	2
2007	Canada	SS			6	3	3	6	26
2008	Canada	WJC			7	4	2	6	4
2016	Canada	WC			10	4	3	7	10
2016	Canada	WCH			6	5	3	8	8
2025	Canada	4NF			4	1	0	1	0
Junior totals					30	16	13	29	58
Senior totals					20	10	6	16	18

Awards and records

See also

• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
• List of NHL players with 100-point seasons