Bruins provide a timeline for Marchand's return to action

Among the biggest names expected to start the season on the sidelines are Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand. We aren't likely to see McAvoy before Christmas, but according to a recent report from Matt Porter, we could see Marchand return shortly after American Thanksgiving (Nov 24th).

Marchand is very much one of the members of an elite aging core who keep the wheels turning in Boston. Getting a player like Marchand back into the lineup does a number of things for the Bruins. It ups the level of intensity, helps take the opposition off their game with how disruptive he can be and it also allows the Bruins to score. Lots. They don't call Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak "The Perfection Line" for nothing.

The 34-year-old has recorded at least 28 goals in each of the last 7 seasons despite never having played a full 82-game season over that span. Of those 7 seasons, he has scored more than 30 goals in 5 of them, including a career-high 39 goals in 2016-17.

This past season, Marchand tallied 32 goals and 80 points in just 70 games. He also notched 11 points in 7 playoff games. If the B's can tread water and avoid slipping too far back in the opening month-and-a-half of the season, the Bruins should challenge for a playoff spot once again this season in an ultra top-heavy Atlantic Division.