The Boston Bruins currently lead the series 2-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a big part of their success is credited to their captain, Brad Marchand.
At 35, Marchand is showing no signs of slowing down. He's been lighting it up offensively, tallying two goals and six points in the first three games of the series. He's also getting under the skin of the Leafs with his gritty style of play, much to the frustration of Sheldon Keefe and his squad.
The admiration for Marchand's leadership extended even further, as Wayne Gretzky shared a remarkable story:
One of the great stories I've ever heard in hockey... he went to training camp last year with the rookies for five days and practiced with them to teach them how to be a pro and what it's like to be a Boston Bruin. So, to me, that's the sign of a great captain, and his leadership is untouched. He's just a tremendous, tremendous athlete... He reminds me of Theo Fleury... he had the heart of gold, and that's how Marchand plays. The exact same way.
Clearly, Marchand's dedication to his team and his stellar play have earned him praise from the greatest player in NHL history.