Marchand's tough love leadership has led to some heated exchanges with younger teammates

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Dorin Canaday
February 27, 2023 (10:39)

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If the Boston Bruins have anything, it's an abundance of veteran leadership in the locker room, and some of the best of it, at that.

The 34-year-old knows how to play on the edge - while sometimes going over it - but he also knows what it takes to win. Which is exactly why he's been one of the perfect leaders for the younger core players like Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak and Jake Debrusk.

The Bruins veteran recently sat down with Matt Porter of the Boston Globe to discuss just how some of those �'teachings'' have led to some heated exchanges over the years, especially with Pastrnak. Below is what he Marchand shared as per Porter:

''Kells always said to me, when he played, �Anything I say to you between 7 and 10 [p.m.], stays on the ice, stays on the bench,' Brad Marchand said. �It's not personal. It's just a work thing. You see it out there - tempers flare sometimes. [David Pastrnak] and I are notorious for getting at each other's throats. We push [Charlie McAvoy] pretty hard, too. It comes because we hold those guys to pretty high standards. They re some of the best players in the game, and we want them to bring that consistency every night. To do that, you've got to be pushed.' �'

This ultimately comes down to the �'Bruins Culture'' that was built by guys like Zdeno Chara, David Krejci and current captain Patrice Bergeron. Something that a young Marchand saw first hand as he was breaking into the NHL in 2009-10.

That's what makes this Boston team so dangerous. They have the perfect balance of leadership that has won and a young core that has come close to winning and knows what it takes.

Add in the locker room chemistry the entire team has together, it's clear there's something extra special about the 2022-23 Boston Bruins.