Marchand adds new contract to big World Cup showing at Crosby’s side
TORONTO — Brad Marchand wasn’t among the first 16 players named to Canada’s World Cup of Hockey roster because the team’s brass wanted to avoid a controversy.
Even though everyone involved in the selection process had Marchand on their initial lists, Canada’s decision-makers knew that nobody would be surprised by his omission. Excluding a player with more star power might have caused an unnecessary controversy, so Team Canada’s brass opted to wait until late May to name Marchand to the roster.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be a big story if Brad wasn’t on the (first) list and we knew he was going to make the team,” said Canadian general manager Doug Armstrong. “But to remove one of those (other) 16 you’re sort of creating something that doesn’t need to be created. But he was on everyone’s roster right from the get-go.”
Marchand has been the most pleasant surprise for Canada at the World Cup, a seamless fit alongside Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron on the team’s top line. The 28-year-old, who signed an eight-year, US$49-million deal with the Boston Bruins on Monday morning, has rung up five points, including a pair of key goals in a semifinal win against Russia over the weekend.