The Bruins are out to a sensational start to the season and are getting back one of their top players.
Star winger Brad Marchand has not played yet this year as he continues to recover from offseason hip surgery, but the pesky forward is in line to make his season debut Thursday night against the Red Wings, according to Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.
Montgomery: Brad Marchand is IN for tonight’s game.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 27, 2022
This comes just one day after Montgomery said that while Marchand is "ahead of schedule", he was not expecting him to play this week, but at some point before Thanksgiving.
"I don't expect him to play tomorrow, no...he's ahead of schedule. He's going to play before Thanksgiving. As you can tell, he's starting to look good out there." -- Coach Montgomery on Brad Marchand's upcoming return pic.twitter.com/NiP2EMRbIf
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 26, 2022
The 32-year-old has been skating with the team for a few days now, but on Wednesday, he was seen taking full line rushes with the team, slotting in on his typical top spot as the left wing on the first line alongside Patrice Bergeron. Now, he will be back playing in an NHL game tonight about a month earlier than expected.
"Getting closer, for sure. Every time I get out there with the full team and do the full team practices, it's different...definitely every day, getting closer." -- Brad Marchand after today's #NHLBruins practice pic.twitter.com/ERI0CdUKZw
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 26, 2022
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Marchand has been one of the Bruins' most consistent players since he broke into the league in 2009. He is coming off a 2021-22 campaign where he recorded 32 goals and 38 assists for 80 points in 70 games.
When will Brad Marchand return?
Marchand was not expected to rejoin the team until late November/early December. He received surgery on both of his hips at the end of May, with the timetable for recovery set at six months.
However Marchand has progressed along way ahead of schedule and is ready to join the team before the end of October, nearly a month earlier than expected. The winger admitted that his goal was to come back from the end of November.
Brad Marchand on his recovery from hip surgery:
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 27, 2022
“They told me it was going to be end of November. I was like, “It’s not going to be the end of November.’” pic.twitter.com/UlBBBk8m1L
How often Marchand is uncertain at this point. Montgomery said he would play 16-17 minutes on Thursday and would not play in Boston's game on Friday against Columbus. The coach expects Marchand won't play in back-to-back games going forward, at least for the first bit while Marchand adjusts to the game pace again.
