Bruins’ Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak Address Rumors of Team Conflict
The Boston Bruins are currently on a six-game losing streak, and during such downturns, speculation often surfaces about issues within the locker room.
WEEI radio host Rich Keefe mentioned this on his Friday morning broadcast.
He claimed the “locker room was a disaster,” suggesting that David Pastrnak expressed a desire to avoid playing on a line with Brad Marchand.
Marchand firmly dismissed these claims.
“It’s unfortunate,” the Bruins captain shared with reporters. “I understand that reporters have jobs to do, which typically involve reporting facts, but when it comes to blatant lies perpetuated in the media, that’s when there’s an issue.”
He accused Keefe of fabricating stories, labeling the report as “ridiculous” and “embarrassing.”
“Pasta and I are best friends. We’ve maintained a very close bond for years,” Marchand explained. “The reason we don’t play together is to ensure our lineup has balanced depth.”
“There is absolutely no truth to the idea that he is a problem in the locker room. He is one of the most respected players here, and there are no issues whatsoever. To say he’s at the center of anything is a complete fabrication.”
The Bruins were anticipated to rank among the elite in the Atlantic Division but decided to part ways with coach Jim Montgomery following a sluggish start. A brief improvement occurred under interim coach Joe Sacco, but the team now finds itself barely holding onto a wild-card spot, just one point ahead, halfway through the season.
Marchand acknowledged that this season hasn’t unfolded as the team had hoped, stating, “but I won’t let some random person from the media spread such ridiculous nonsense.”
Pastrnak also vehemently rejected the report, calling it “100% false.”
“We care about each other a lot,” he remarked. “I hold him in very high regard.”
Both Marchand and Pastrnak shared that they laughed off the accusations stemming from the WEEI report.
“We have an amazing friendship,” Marchand noted. “Our wives and kids also share wonderful relationships, allowing us to laugh about it and put this rumor to rest.”
