Once a pest, always a pest.
That was Craig Laughlin's verdict on Boston's Brad Marchand, as the Capitals look to rally back from down 2-1 in their opening round playoff series against the Bruins.
"I'd bring out my worst BMitch onto the ice and kick his butt," Laughlin said during his weekly appearance with 106.7 The Fan's Brian Mitchell and JP Finlay, presented by Paul Henry's Window Installation.
Now in his 12th NHL season, Marchand's game has evolved, though. Boston's left winger is now a valuable contributor on offense, something the Caps have to account for on the ice.
"He is so talented," Laughlin said. "And if you look at his numbers — I think he's got six times over 85 points, he had a 100-point season. He's still a marquee player. I mean, come around to the Olympics next year, he's gonna be one of the top wingers for Team Canada if the NHL goes to the Olympics. So he's looked at that well."
"But the thing about him is, he's matured," he continued. "He's not as agitating as he was in the past, guys. You look at his penalty minutes, they're way down. He's starting to play a little more."
"But he still has that look that you want to beat him up," he said.
"To me, he's still a pest and he's still a pain in the you-know-what, but man is he ever a big-game player, boys. He's a big-game player."