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Brad Marchand takes a shot at multiple Boston Bruins players

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Joshua Deeds
September 25, 2024 (11:31 PM)

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Photo credit: NESN

The Boston Bruins have good competition, as battle persists on the ice for roster spots during the 2024-2025 season.

Many prospects want to make the NHL roster including Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, and Riley Duran.

Lysell and Merkulov would play against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night, and improve their game during the preseason game. However, Brad Marchand feels like the new Bruins standard hasn't been met yet.

"It's encouraging, but pretty well needs to be better," Marchand said. "For those guys to make the team, you've got to look at it and push guys out that are on term and big deals. Pretty good is not going to cut it. If you're happy with that, you've got a long ways to go."
Both prospects would contribute to the 4-2 victory against the re-tooling Washington Capitals.

Lysell would deposit a goal, and Merkulov would add a helper in the victory. But Marchand feels that the two could improve significantly.

"It's a good step, but they need to continue to grow and be better," he said. "Not just making plays, but being clean with the puck and not turning it over and stuff like that. They're showing well. They're very skilled players, but there's a lot more to it than just making a couple of plays."

Marchand added: "To make it at this level consistently, you've got to steal somebody's job. The biggest thing is how can you raise a bar to take a job and push somebody out. You know, and that's what they've got to get to. ... We need young guys to push and continue to push the pace and allow guys to not get comfortable on this team. We need the young bodies to come in and help the team, and that's what great systems do."

Marchand wasn't hesitating when it came to calling out the prospects on the roster. Honestly, it does seem a bit reactionary to call them out in the media, rather than addressing them face-to-face.

But as Marchand is someone who has seen close to two decades of NHL action, he knows what it takes to be successful in the league.

In the long-run, Marchand fire shots across Lysell and Merkulov's bow, but it was good with intent. If he can motivate them correctly and treat them like the peers he should, they shouldn't have a problem getting the most out of both prospects.

Source: NESN
Brad Marchand Challenges Bruins Prospects To �Be Better'

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NHL players in this story
Brad Marchand
Riley Duran
Fabian Lysell

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