Bruins' Brad Marchand out 6 Months After Surgery on Hip Injuries

Boston Bruins star Brad Marchand will be sidelined for around six months after undergoing successful surgery on both of his hips, the team announced Friday. 

The six-month recovery timeline means he will not be ready for the start of the 2022-23 season. 

The news comes as no surprise after Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters this week that Marchand was undergoing a hip evaluation. Marchand also noted that he was going to need a procedure done either this summer or the next.

"Potentially, yeah," Marchand said when asked if he needed any procedures, per 98.5 The Sports Hub's Ty Anderson. "I’m gonna need something done this summer or next summer, but we’ll take a look at that [with the doctors]."

Marchand has been a staple in Boston's lineup since the 2010-11 season and has only gotten better with age. He recorded a 100-point 2018-19 season and has two seasons with at least 80 points since. 

During the 2021-22 season, the 34-year-old tallied 32 goals and 48 assists in 70 games. 

The news of Marchand's surgery is a significant blow for the Bruins, who could also be without Patrice Bergeron next season. Bergeron is an unrestricted free agent and has not decided whether he will return for another year or retire.

The six-month recovery timeline would have Marchand returning to the Bruins in late November. He would then likely have to undergo a ramping up period before suiting up for a game. 

The Bruins will have to rely on their depth early in the 2022-23 campaign, and players like Taylor Hall, David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk will be heavily leaned upon. Pastrnak tallied 40 goals and 37 assists in 72 games during the 2021-22 season, while Hall finished with 20 goals and 41 assists in 81 games. 

DeBrusk, meanwhile, notched 25 goals and 17 assists in 77 games. 

That said, the Bruins could look to make some offseason additions in free agency to help lighten the burden on those players. However, the team will have just $4.3 million in cap space and won't be able to do much unless it makes some trades.