Comparables to Brad Marchand at his best

[jeangauthier]

Le Rat Linesman........and then cowers Behind Lucy Lucic........

 

[JWells16]

Fleury was the first I thought of...

 

[tarheelhockey]

Ken Linseman is the most direct comparable.

Age|Linseman|Marchand
21|22-57-79|x
22|17-30-47|21-20-41
23|24-68-92|28-27-55
24|33-42-75|18-18-36 (lockout)
25|18-49-67|25-28-53

When you mentally adjust these numbers from 1980s scoring levels to 2010s scoring levels, it's pretty close between them. Linseman was a bit better of a playmaker but that's about the only difference. And of course both of them had the same reputation for "personality" -- the Rat and the Nose.

 

[Diagonaali]

I don't know if there has ever been any player as productive and quick a player on his skates and as skilled with his hands under the label of a "pest" as as Marchand is. If being labeled as a pest is the comparison.
I really enjoy his game and speed when he is at his best. The diving not so much. His hockey game is very different from the other guys mentioned in this thread. Only thing common is the diving and the other antics, but Marchand is not making a career based on that. He is a very skilled hockey player and that is his career.

 

[Crazy_Ike]

Greg Louganis.

 

[Lost Horizons]

Le Rat Linesman........and then cowers Behind Lucy Lucic........

except he's never on the ice with Lucic save for the rare pp time they share. BM linemates are noted thugs Bergeron (3) and Smith(0).

 

[Arthur*]

Is Marchand a very good hockey player who happens to be a pest, or a pest who happens to be very good at hockey?

 

[Lost Horizons]

Marchand's closest comparable in the league right now is Hartnell

 

[FinRuutu]

Way more dirty than Marchand.

Most pests are whiny brats.

Both backed up their antics with fighting.

 

[KeninsFan]

Burrows in his peak.

Before the 2010/2011 season he would chirp a lot, use dirty little plays like slew foots and was an excellent defensive winger.

Put up 35 goals and 67 points too.

 

[Doughty]

Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows

 

[Ziostilon]

Was Scottie Upshall once upon a time a comparable

Now im guessing not so much

 

[MrShift4]

No way in hell is Marchand as good as Fleury

 

[PensBandwagonerNo272*]

no one said that m8

 

[Ziostilon]

No way in hell is Marchand as good as Fleury

he's not. but in terms of style of play and offensive output.

he is the closest for current active NHL players.

 

[Brainiac]

Not just NHL players

Who are some comparables to Brad Marchand when he is at the top of his game

There was that skunk in my backyard last year... Man was it getting on my nerves.

I'm just kidding guys. I'll probably get reported, though.

 

[TheAngryHank]

Avery..

 

[MoreOrr]

Esa Tikkanen from the 80's.

Ken Linesman as said, another good one.

I was thinking of Theo Fleury too, but is there anybody in the league currently that is anywhere close to Theo's offensive game

I could only think of Marchand and Steve Downie and neither are really that close to Theo

Damn, both players I thought of. First thought of my favorite Oiler, Tikkanen, but thought the principal difference would be Marchand's speed. Then Fleury is the guy who has the speed, and size, but not as big a pest as Marchand can be, and also Fleury was better offensively. So, a combination of the two.

 

[Addison Rae]

Burrows

 

[rumrokh]

Damphousse, maybe. Or like a puck possession version of Morrow.

 

[Crosbyfan]

First name that comes to my mind is Pat Verbeek.

+1, the original "little ball of hate"...Linesman also very comparable

 

[MXD]

Damphousse, maybe.

...What?

Linesman also very comparable

Bingo.

 

[alg363636]

There was that skunk in my backyard last year... Man was it getting on my nerves.

I'm just kidding guys. I'll probably get reported, though.

Don't worry. Marchand's probably my favorite player and I laughed.

Kid's a giant pain in the ass (and yes, occasionally for his own team) but he's really ****ing good. Streaky as hell but when he's on his game, good luck.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I don't know if there has ever been any player as productive and quick a player on his skates and as skilled with his hands under the label of a "pest" as as Marchand is. If being labeled as a pest is the comparison.

Clarke, Mikita, Fleury.

Plenty of pests at a higher level than Marchand.

 

[rumrokh]

...What?

Speed, puck possession, grittiness. You can get worked up about ultimate quality of player, but stylistically, not so different. Most of the time, when you get a forward who plays with an edge, they're bigger and/or more of a goal-scorer than puck-handler, so the list of comparables isn't that long.