BOSTON — In the near future Nos. 33 and 37 will hang from the rafters at TD Garden.
Unless you’ve been living under a Zamboni, you know that means Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron will one day have their sweater numbers retired by the Bruins. Both also have a place waiting for them at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Chara is enjoying his first year of retirement, and Bergeron could be watching games from the couch a season from now. Their respective legacies are set in Boston and in the hockey world.
Since teammate Brad Marchand returned to the lineup Thursday for the first time this season after undergoing offseason surgery on both hips, it’s a good time to ignite another interesting hockey discussion.
Is No. 63 a future Hall of Famer?
After asking several NHL personnel the answer was a resounding “yes.”
“No question he is, especially if he has three, or four more years like his last three, or four,” said one NHL executive. “No reason to believe he won’t because he’s a rare player that keeps getting better in his 30s.”
A few current NHL coaches also answered, “yes” to the inquiry. Another former NHL general manager questioned why Doug Weight is not in the Hall of Fame. He certainly has the resume – 19 seasons, 1,238 games played, 1,033 points and a Stanley Cup – but he does not have a plaque in Toronto.
So, where does that leave Marchand?
He has a reputation with opponents and fans outside of Boston, but he’s the prototypical player you want on your team and despise playing against.
He showed zero rust in his game Thursday night.
Marchand scored a pair of power-play goals and added an assist to help the Bruins to a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. He now has 353 goals and 445 assists for 798 points in 875 games played.
The 34-year-old winger has plenty of time remaining to increase those already Hall-of-Fame-worthy numbers.
In his 14th season, Marchand ranks No. 6 all-time in goals and has registered 11 20-goal seasons and five 30-goal seasons. Oh, and he won the Stanley Cup in 2011.
He really has improved through all his experience.
“You just learn where the holes are on the ice, where you can be to get room for yourself and where the ice is available,” he said after the win. “That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned as the years went on … That’s the thing with age, you just know the game so much better than you did early on.”
Thanks to Twitter follow @ibbirdman who sent a screen shot of a graphic during Thursday’s game, explaining Marchand ranks fourth in the NHL for most points (506) since the 2016-17 season. He trails Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (660) and Leon Draisaitl (568), and Chicago’s Patrick Kane (522).
That’s impressive company.
“There’s a pretty long history of Brad being an impactful player for us in all situations,” said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. “It just goes to show how hard the player is willing to work, compete and get himself arguably at least a month in front of what the timeline was (to return).”
According to hockey-reference.com, Marchand’s comparables (adjusted point shares) include Hall of Famers Brett Hull, Steve Yzerman, Teemu Selanne, Marcel Dionne, Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, along with future HOFers Joe Thornton, Steven Stamkos, Evgeni Malkin and Patrick Kane.
That’s outstanding company.
Marchand’s numerous suspensions and fines could hinder his chances soon after he retires, but he’s earned the respect of past and current players.
Marchand has been asked the question in the past about the possibility of enshrinement, but he said it’s not something he thinks about. Whether that’s true or not, the answer is simple. Yes, Marchand is a future Hall of Famer.
“Just an incredibly impactful player in all facets of the game,” Sweeney said. “We missed him … He adds to our team in every area and we’re a better team because of him.”
Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Boston’s Brad Marchand makes case for enshrinement in NHL Hall of Fame
