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The combo of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, the most dynamic one-two punch of the last six years for the Boston Bruins, will have a new third to their group this month in all-world superstar talent and two-time Stanley Cup winner Sidney Crosby.
Well, at least for the start of the World Cup of Hockey practices for Team Canada, anyways.
Given the chemistry between Bergeron and Marchand, linemates since the 2010-11 season in which the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup in 39 years, it makes sense for Team Canada to put the duo together as a definite three-zone threat, or even as the club’s shutdown-but-scoring fourth-line.
But Crosby? What a dream. Even if it’s for just a day.
There’s homeland jersey history between Bergeron and Crosby going back to their days in the World Juniors Championships back in 2005, where they skated on a line with Corey Perry (who was recently named as the replacement for the injured Jeff Carter). It’s also worth noting that Crosby did spend a bit of his summer skating and training with Marchand, as the two are both Nova Scotia natives, and Crosby did note that he could envision himself playing on a line with Marchand, who scored 37 goals, the most by any Bruin since Glen Murray struck with 44 in 2002-03, in this tournament.
I talked to Bergeron for the September issue of the New England Hockey Journal (which you should totally pick up because obviously), Bergeron was honest when pressed on if there’s any Canadian player in particular that he’d like to see as the third member of a line with he and Marchand.
“There’s too many to choose from,… Bergeron said when asked of the perfect linemate if he and Marchand were on a line together. “I don’t even know if I’m going to be playing center or wing.
“We do have chemistry together, but whatever they plan on doing, we’ll be ready for it.…
But if that player is Crosby, I’m sure there will be no complaints from either Bruin.
Ty Anderson has been covering the National Hockey League for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010, has been a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association's Boston Chapter since 2013, and can also be read in the New England Hockey Journal magazine. Contact him on Twitter or send him an email at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com.