Bruins’ Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle ‘Starting To’ Find Chemistry
Boston — Although they have played together for almost six seasons, Bruins forwards Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle had to improve on their connection coming into this season.
That’s what occurs when teams are made to change drastically.
The retirements of David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron this past offseason virtually forced Coyle to leap up two lines, which left him with an almost
impossible challenge. Although he needed some time to get used to his new teammates, the 31-year-old is having his greatest season yet and has a position that no one would be jealous of.
“I knew it would be really different,” Marchand said Wednesday, responding to a question about playing Coyle. “I kind of expected that it would
take time. I was hoping we’d build chemistry immediately, and it just felt like it was a little bit tough because we were bouncing around the lineup at different times.
“.. Three of us needed to adjust to each other, not just one of us. We kept moving and bouncing around.
We knew we would have to work on it, but it just made it difficult to create that chemistry early on. Right now, (Coyle is) playing at an amazing level; he’s really simple to read off of, and I believe we’re beginning to develop that chemistry. It’s been a great time.
Marchand, after playing for more than a decade alongside Bergeron, knew it would be an adjustment. He also knew exactly what it would take to get on the same page as Coyle.
Marchand remarked, “I think (we just needed) time.” “You require cooperative practices and games. We simply needed more practice to develop
that synergy because, in my opinion, we are both different players than the teams we often play with. It hasn’t happened much lately, but the more
you play together and engage in conversation, the more enjoyable it becomes. Out there, we’re beginning to feel so much better together.
Marchand’s statement that the two are just beginning to gel is noteworthy given that they have helped the Bruins to an Eastern Conference-leading 67 points at over halfway through the season.
Now that they are starting to get along, just think of what they could accomplish.
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