Brad Marchand, right, celebrates with teammates.

No, it’s not Tyler Seguin, the Bruins’ #1 choice (#2 overall) in the 2010 draft. And it’s not Jordan Caron, their #1 choice in 2009 (#25 overall). Nor is it Joe Colborne, #1 in 2008 (#16 overall). Caron and Colborne are playing in Providence with the AHL Bruins, and Seguin is doing fairly well in Boston but not exactly setting the world on fire.

No, the Bruins’ top rookie, a guy who in the past month has played himself into the Rookie of the Year conversation, is none other than Brad Marchand.

Who?

A native of Nova Scotia, Brad Marchand is a 5-foot, 9-inch, 190-pound (10 pounds of which appears to be
nose and eyebrows) ball of fire who was the third pick of the Bruins in the 2006 draft (#71 overall), behind Phil Kessel and Milan Lucic. He played the 2008-09 season in Providence, putting up 18 goals and 41 assists in 79 games, and adding seven goals and eight assists in 16 playoff games. But his biggest claim to fame in the P-Bruins’ final playoff series vs. the Portland Pirates is that he somehow managed to goad a Portland player into coming off the bench and attacking him during a game.

You could say that Brad Marchand made his name as an agitator.

He scored 32 points in 34 games in his second year in Providence and earned himself some time in Boston, but only recorded one assist in 20 games. Determined to make the big club this fall out of training camp, he outperformed veteral Daniel Paille and earned a spot on the fourth line alongside center Greg Campbell and Shawn Thornton.

Dubbing themselves the “Merlot Line” after the maroon color of their practice jerseys, the Marchand/Campbell/Thornton combination was the Bruins’ fourth line in name only. They were the go-to guys when coach Claude Julien wanted to get the Bruins rolling with their relentless forchecking and tenacious play. Thornton, who had never scored more than six goals in his NHL career, has seven already this season.

It took Marchand some time to find the net – he finally potted his first NHL goal on Nov. 3, appropriately enough, on a shorthanded breakway, showcasing his PK ability, his shot, and his speed:

But it really wasn’t the job of the Merlot Line to score, rather to agitate the opposition.

And did they ever. Though known as something of a punk in the AHL, Marchand (at the request of Julien) has toned it down a bit in the NHL, though he’s still a threat to draw penalties with his hard-charging style of play, and he doesn’t hesitate to throw a verbal jab when he can or stick up for his teammates, despite his small stature.

But as solid and impressive as he was on the Merlot Line, Marchand really started to take off due to an injury to Milan Lucic in early January, which caused some line shuffling. Paille took Marchand’s spot alongside Campbell and Thornton, and Marchand was moved onto a line with Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi. And the result was magic.

Since joining the wiley veteran Recchi and Bergeron, one of the most complete players in the NHL, Marchand has scored seven goals and added four assists in 13 games. His plus/minus in those games is +12, and overall he is tied for fourth in the NHL in plus/minus at +21 (with Bergeron, among a few others), tops among rookies. He also leads the NHL in shorthanded goals with four, is sixth in rookie goal-scoring with 13 and second in shooting percentage at 15.5.

He’s come out of nowhere, surprised just about everyone (except maybe himself), and, just as he forced himself into the Boston lineup, he’s forcing himself into the NHL’s collective consciousness. He probably won’t win the Calder Trophy, but he certainly deserves the NHL’s attention.

Photo courtesy of bestlaidplans.org

Igor Bobkov is the lone member of the Russian Junior team this year with North American experience.

It’s that time of year — no, not the holidays, although that certainly has taken up most people’s resources lately.  It’s time for the World Junior Championships.  Unable to attend this year (the goddesses trip to Moscow is less than a month away) I’m relegated to watching this exciting event on TV.  As usual, however, I watch the Russian team with great interest.

The Russians have chosen an interesting approach this year.  Rather than select players with North American experience in the CHL or NHL, they have gone with an entire line-up (save for goalie Igor Bobkov of the OHL) of home grown players from the KHL or Russian junior league.  While this has allowed them to choose exceptional players such as Maxim Kitsyn and Vladamir Terasenko, it has also excluded talents such as 2011 draft prospect Vladislav Namestinkov and Washington Capitals prospect Stanislav Galiev.

What does any of this mean?   One could certainly say not much, as defense appears to be their weakness.  The physical play is certainly good — much better than we’ve seen from Russian players in the past and these kids are really working hard on the forecheck.  Yet the defense has been guilty of making poor decisions at inopportune times and has been unable to contain some good forechecking teams.

While the Russians as a team are still one of the more feared rivals of the Canadians and Americans, the TSN announcers pointed out that the number of Russians in the NHL are less than half of what they were in 2003 and, according to Pierre McGuire, those that are aren’t “as good.”  The insinuation is that despite the lure of the KHL, Russians just aren’t good enough to make the NHL anymore.

Clearly, this is a case of xenophobia by Mr. McGuire.  First, let’s look at the players that aren’t “as good” as the Russians of the 90′s and early 21^st century.  Ovechkin?  Datsuyk?  Malkin?   Really, Pierre?  I doubt anyone would say these players are less talented than Fedorov, Bure and Mogilny.    Last year, there were 3 Russians in the top 20 in points and 3 in the top 7 in goals.  Ovechkin won the Hart trophy (league MVP) an unprecedented 2 years in a row in ’08 and ‘09 and Pavel Datsyuk has taken 5 of the leagues top honors at the awards ceremony in the past 3 years.

So, let’s dismiss the premise that the Russians aren’t as talented anymore.  Then why aren’t Russian players choosing to play for the best league in the world?  Is it because of the advent of the KHL?  Perhaps.  Yet everyone by now has heard of the financial troubles teams are having.  Playing for certain teams is a risk:  You may or may not get your monthly paycheck.

I think one has to look deeper into the culture and socio-political history of Russia for the answer.  While hardly a first world country, communism is no longer a reality.  Before, players were lured by the opportunity of fame and fortune that North America could present them.  After the initial breakup of the Soviet Union, the streets were filled with virtual chaos and North America still provided a safe and stable alternative for talented hockey players.

Now?  Things are different.  Hockey players make decent salaries in a land of the have and have-nots.

Nikita Filatov chose to play in the KHL last year rather than the Blue Jacket's AHL affiliate.

In a cash based economy, the hockey players are certain part of the “haves.”  One can live a relatively luxurious existence without having to leave home.  Russian’s, after all, are just at ethnocentric as anyone else, despite what many consider an inferior standard of living in their country.  Most importantly, however, I feel the reason the kids aren’t coming to play is something that is universal with that generation — they can play in the KHL and not really have to try.

Yep, I’ve said it. The culture of entitlement reigns supreme in the under 30 crowd these days, regardless of ethnicity and country of origin.  They want it all without having to work for it.  The Russians of old must cringe at the lack of work ethic in many of these players.  This seems to permeate through the ranks of the KHL and the youth see no reason to try too hard to make the NHL.  Things get tough and you get sent down to the AHL?  No problem (a favorite saying among Russians.)  Just come back to the KHL and work half as hard for more money. Although there is clearly a large amount of talent in the league, there is almost no hitting and you won’t have to risk too much night in and night out.  What is the incentive to play for the best hockey league in the world when you may have to work hard in the minors for a few years to get there?  You can have it now in the KHL!  There are just enough NHL veterans and old school Russians with the talent there to keep the league afloat as a legitimate threat.

So, as I watch this talented group of under-20 Russians skate their hearts out up and down the ice I wonder where the breakdown is.  When do they decide to take the easy way out?  And will the Russian program eventually collapse, leaving the KHL without the experienced veterans and hard working youth, going back to a second rate European league with little sponsorship and support.  The Russian Hockey federation definitely has a challenge on their hands and only time will tell if they can maintain their position as one of the top hockey countries in the world.

Photos: Igor Bobkov by Elena Rusko (rusko.fishup.ru), Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.  Nikita Filatov by Goddess Sasha, Copyright 2010.  All Rights Reserved.

So here we go again with another Goddess pick off.   This time, we are selecting who we believe will win the major categories at the NHL Awards today.   As always, we made our selections without seeing one another’s answers or consulting anyone else.  Let’s see which goddess gets the bragging rights for this pick off round.   For the record, Goddesses Annalisk, Kaat and Savvy tied for the win in our last pick off.   After you’ve read our picks, why not give us yours? [Editor's note: Updated with winners 10:35 p.m. ET]

Goddess Face Off

	AMY	KAAT	SASHA	SAVVY
Hart Trophy	Ovechkin	Sedin	Ovechkin	Sedin (I’m sick and tired of Ovechkin and Crosby.)
Vezina Trophy	Miller	Miller	Bryzgalov	Miller
Norris Trophy	Green	Keith	Doughty	Doughty (I don’t have a clue why Mike Green is a finalist –again!. It’s best DEFENSEman.)
Calder Trophy	Myers	Duchene	Duchene	Myers
Lady Byng Trophy	Datsyuk	Datsyuk (Natch!)	Datsyuk	St. Louis
Selke Trophy	Datsyuk	Kesler	Kesler	Staal
Jack Adams Award	Tippett (Did an amazing job amidst all the chaos.)	Tippett (The obvious choice.)	Tippett (Overcame serious obstacles.)	Tippett (Proving that superstars usually aren’t the best coaches.)
Masterton Trophy	Theodore	Theodore	Ortmeyer	Theodore
Pearson Ted Lindsay Award	Ovechkin	Crosby	Crosby	Crosby

Now that you’ve seen our picks, why not give us yours! Leave us a little comment, won’t ya?

Well, they aren’t losers in my book, but “shoulda been winners.”  Making my fearless predictions — who will win the award and who I think should win.

NHL Foundation Player Award
Who should win:  Dustin Brown because didn’t get it last year.
Who will win:  Ryan Miller, since he’s Captain America. :-)

Mark Messier Leadership Award
Who should win:  Ryan Miller, see above and he would so be the captain of the Sabres if he wasn’t a goalie.
Who will win:  Sidney Crosby, because he’s Sidney Crosby.

King Clancy Memorial Trophy
Who should win:  A tie since I love them both for very different reasons
Who will win:  Sidney Crosby, since they don’t usually have a tie and he’s Sidney Crosby.

Frank J. Selke Trophy
Who should win:  Ryan Kesler because I love him. Also, he had a great year and was a big part of the USA silver medal.
Who will win:  Pavel Datsyuk, because people suck and always vote for him.

Jack Adams Award
Who should win:  Dave Tippett who did such an amazing job amidst all the chaos in Phoenix.
Who will win:  Dave Tippett, same reason.

Ted Lindsay Award
Who should win:  Hank Sedin because I love him and he deserves it.
Who will win:  Alexander Ovechkin because no one stays up late enough to watch Vancouver Canucks games and because he’s Ovie.

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Who should win:  All three because they all deserve it.
Who will win:  Jose Theodore just because.

James Norris Memorial Trophy
Who should win:  Duncan Keith. He had a great season and those seven teeth that he gave up against the Sharks should count for something.
Who will win:  Mike Green because some writers are stupid.

Calder Memorial Trophy
Who should win:  Tyler Myers because he is a WHL boy. :)
Who will win:  Tyler Myers, he had a really great season especially as a rookie and a defenseman.

Vezina Trophy
Who should win:  Ryan Miller. Hello? … “Millercles”?
Who will win: Ryan Miller.  It better be Captain America better win or heads will roll.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Who should win:  Marty St. Louis. He’s cool and cute and it’s about time he gets one.
Who will win:  Datsyuk, for the reason above.

Hart Memorial Trophy
Who should win:  Henrik Sedin for reasons above.
Who will win:  Oh, probably Ovechkin also for reasons above.