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The Boston Bruins won’t have their captain, Brad Marchand, for the start of the 2026-27 NHL season. The experienced winger is expected to miss the start of the NHL regular season due to offseason surgery for a hernia and lower-body injuries he sustained during his last playoff run. Both of the injuries require offseason surgery for the player. The procedures are performed in order to heal the lower-body injury that Marchand played with during the last playoffs (NHL.com).
Missing Marchand leaves an instant leadership and production void on Boston’s top line. Known as a high-energy forechecker, clutch scorer, and rough-and-tumble player, the captain is still the irreplaceable pulse of the original six franchise. On special teams, replacing his electrifying touch – especially on the primary penalty-killing unit and top power-play group – will be an early-season obstacle for head coach Jim Montgomery. Rookie and younger forwards will be thrown into more prominent roles during training camp and the season’s first month (Boston Globe).
Despite the setback, management appeared upbeat on Marchand’s road to recovery. The 38-year-old veteran has continually defied the odds – many times – by recovering faster than expected from his surgeries, but trainers are more concerned with the physical well-being of the winger and would rather have him fully healthy than available for early October games (Boston Globe).
With him out of action, alternate captains David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy will need to be even more vocal leaders around the locker room and on the ice. Boston will probably lean more on its defensive structure and team play to make up for Marchand’s absent offensive production. While the Bruins are already facing a brutal travel schedule to open the regular season, Marchand’s main concern is getting his body healthy enough to help on the long grind (Boston Globe).
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