You won't find a better duo on and off the ice than Boston Bruins forwards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
These two players have been linemates for about a decade, and few tandems have been more productive. Bergeron is a five-time Selke Trophy winner and has scored 20-plus goals in nine consecutive seasons. Marchand has scored above a point-per-game rate for six seasons in a row -- 506 points in 420 games over that span.
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The chemistry between Bergeron and Marchand on the ice is incredible. Their bond is just as strong, if not better, off the ice.
"It kinda clicked right away," Bergeron said on Sportsnet's "32 Thoughts" podcast when asked about his friendship with Marchand. "As we all know, he's got the energy and he's got the temper at times. But just an amazing person, super generous, and a great family guy. Over the years -- you know you play with someone for so long, he's on your left side, or you go through ups and downs, and you create connections beyond just being friends. You're best friends. It's a special bond. It's something I'm very lucky to have.
"Actually, a few teammates have said that in the past, where they're like -- they're kinda jealous in a way, they're like, 'I've never had that. I've bounced around.' A few guys have said they've never had that connection with a teammate like we do because we've been playing together for so long. When you look back, you don't think about it, but when someone says that, it's like, I guess you're right. It's pretty special. We should be thankful for that."
Marchand has crossed the line several times in his career, whether it's licking an opponent or getting suspended for a bad hit. But Bergeron thinks Marchand is better now at walking that line, playing with an edge and not getting into trouble.
"There's been a few conversations about some of the things that have been done from him," Bergeron said with a smile. "I can't say I always can control his temper. I try at times, but he's gotten so much better over the years. It makes him who he is, too, he just plays with his heart on his sleeve. Most nights he's the heartbeat of our team as well. You don't want to change that too much, either, so it's a fine line."
Boston Bruins
This duo is off to a fantastic start this season.
Bergeron has tallied 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 13 games, while Marchand has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in five games. This offensive production is one of the primary reasons why the Bruins lead the Eastern Conference with a 11-2-0 record as of Wednesday.