BOSTON — Brad Marchand says headlines from the 2024 NHL All-Star Game will be about young players dominating the league rankings, on Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid And Connor Bedardthe faces of the current and future NHL.
But the Boston Bruins forward doesn’t want anyone to sleep Sydney Crosby.
Crosby, who was named to his 10th All-Star Game on Thursday (he only played in five due to injury), scored the Pittsburgh Penguins’ goal and had two assists in a 6-0 victory. 5 against the Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday. Crosby has 41 points (22 goals, 19 assists) in 38 games this season and the 36-year-old has worked his way up to 12th on the all-time points list with 1,543.
Matthews, 26, center for the Toronto Maple Leafs, leads the NHL with 30 goals, while McDavid, 26, of the Edmonton Oilers, is tied for fifth in the NHL with 54 points this season. Bédard, 18, of the Chicago Blackhawks, leads all rookies in goals (15), assists (18) and points (33).
“I think he’s still obviously one of the best in the world, but he doesn’t really get the credit he deserves right now,” Marchand said. “A lot of the attention is on the younger guys, but if you look at the details of the game and the 200 feet, he’s by far the best player in the league, him and (the Avalanche forward Colorado) Nathan Mackinnon.”
He added: “Two good boys from Nova Scotia. »
Marchand has long admired Crosby’s game, playing on a line with him and his then-Bruins teammate. Patrice Bergeron at the 2016 Hockey World Cup.
“It’s all about how he prepares and how he’s been doing it for years,” the 35-year-old said. “I think what a lot of players don’t understand, especially younger players, is that the work you do when you’re younger and early in your career and even throughout your career, it doesn’t does not benefit you for the rest of the season, it is a continuation of its construction for later.
“It’s something he’s done so well for so long, it’s the way he trains and takes care of himself and always trying to get better, his competitiveness on and off the ice, it’s is unmatched.”
Marchand and Crosby traded goals in the third period Thursday, with Marchand scoring the tying goal shorthanded at 3:08 of the period and Crosby going one better at 11:19.
