I don’t know what it’s like to grow up in East Longmeadow, MA. I don’t know what it’s like to attend a local University where everyone knows your name and who you are. I don’t know what it’s like to be 21-years-old and play in the NHL for your hometown team that you’ve idolized your entire life. I imagine it’s pretty awesome.

I also don’t know what it’s like to be “that hometown guy” that everyone has an opinion of. I don’t know what it’s like to have to hear some nobody (like ME) criticize my life and/or career publicly. I imagine it’s pretty challenging.

Look, I’m not sorry for my opinions or for what my eyes see on the ice. But, I can understand feeling disrespected and attacked by someone who is on the outside looking in, and for that I apologize. Let me make it up to you Frank, and to all of your loyal fans and supporters.

“He’s a quick, diminutive skater who can blast the puck, but can also be a bit of a hothead at times and make some careless mistakes.” Sure, I could maybe be talking about Frank Vatrano, but doesn’t that sound like someone else we know? The similarities between Vatrano and Brad Marchand are really quite remarkable.

Both players stand at 5’9″ and are left-handed shots coming down the wing. Both players were given an opportunity to break out with Bruins at around 21-22 years of age after spending very little time in Providence. I realize I called for Frank not to be a “reckless jackass” on Tuesday night, but it wasn’t too long ago that Brad Marchand was flirting with that title himself.

Ok, I don’t need to be a rude, loud mouthed dickhead to Frank (again, I’m sorry), but my complaints about his game are mainly rooted in him taking too many penalties and not putting the puck in the net (which I want him to do btw!). If you take a look at the first 100 games for each of these two guys, it will actually become apparent that I shouldn’t really be complaining about Frank’s numbers. So, for all the other haters out there, here you go-

Brad Marchand: from October 21, 2009 to October 10, 2011 he scored 22G, 23A = 45 and had 79PIM (an average of just over 1 penalty every 3 games). This also included a number of major penalties; a trend that would continue for the next several years of his career, and would lead to a lot of mixed reviews and confusion about what kind of player he truly was. I know many of you remember that local townie that called him “that Maashmahnd kehd”, a sound byte which would become radio gold during that fabled spring of 2011. Oh, btw, he started his career on a 28-game goal scoring drought.

Frank Vatrano: from November 7, 2015 to November 26, 2017 he scored 20G, 11A = 31 and had 40PIM (an average of just 1 penalty every 5 games!). He did have a 25-game drought of his own from February 28 to October 30 of 2017, a span that extended from his final 16 appearances of last season through his first 9 appearances of this season. And for all of the so-called recklessness, I can’t for the life of me think of a time he’s taken egregious major penalties, or been suspended/fined.

Oh yeah, about those suspensions… this is now Marchand’s sixth suspension since 2011, totaling 19 games for his career. As Bruins fans we all forget about how many times he has played on the wrong side of the line, because he puts up 25+ goals every year. So I guess, that’s all we need to justify all of our love for Brad Marchand? (It is, let’s be realistic here) If he played for any other team in the league, we would all hate Marchand; we’d think he was an annoying little pest. Yet, somehow in spite of his questionable antics, he has become one of the premier scorers in the NHL, a leader in the Bs locker room, and a perennial All-Star. So why is it that Marchand has turned into the player he is?

Just two weeks ago we heard Marchand give some of his own insight into this, when Claude Julien visited the Garden for the first time since becoming the coach of the Montreal Canadiens. Now, I’m paraphrasing here, but I believe it was something along the lines of “Not a lot of coaches would have put the time in with me.” Marchy also had a few more luxuries as a young player that Frank has not, one of which is the gift of being a linemate of Patrice Bergeron‘s. In addition to Bergy, Marchand had all sorts of veteran leadership around him in the form of Chara, Mark Recchi, Andrew Ference, Chris Kelly, and even role players like the fearsome trio we so lovingly refer to as the Merlot Line. I even remember a story from the summer of 2011 (can’t place the source or author, but it might have been autobiographical in the Player’s Tribune). It was Brad Marchand discussing how his father came down on him hard after winning the Cup; he was partying and celebrating too much, and I guess pops had to step in and shorten the reigns on “the little ball of hate” he calls his son.

By no means am I suggesting that Frank’s dad isn’t staying involved in his son’s life, nor am I implying that this team has no veteran leadership. However, beyond Chara, Bergeron, Krejci and Backes, the core of this team is very young and still growing. He hasn’t been able to take advantage of that same continuity and stability in the lineup that was afforded to Marchand. Vatrano has been back and forth between Providence and Boston, and has dealt with 2 different head coaches (as has the rest of the team mind you) trying to help him find his way. This last stretch of games has been particularly staggering for number 72, as he’s only been in the lineup 5 times in the last two months. Since November 29th against Tampa Bay, he’s averaging just 8:47 TOI per game, and has 10 PIM to go along with just 8 SOG (he had only 1 shot in 4 out of 5). Frank, I say this as nicely as I can; you CANNOT expect to stay in the lineup when you have more penalty minutes than shots on goal!

Last Thursday against Ottawa was particularly frustrating to watch, when he took a slashing penalty in the first period and then a tripping call just 1:37 into the third. The latter forced Bruce Cassidy to bench him for the remainder of the game, resulting in a mere 7:10 ice time. Not only was Vatrano’s game shortened, but it put pressure on the rest of the team by having to play one man down and forcing several wingers to have to play extra shifts.

Ok, I know this is long just bear with me here (and if you made it this far, thank you and congratulations). This is the perfect time for Marchand to step in and help mentor Vatrano into the player he could be. Marchy has only served 2 games of his 5-game suspension, and thus will remain out of the lineup until at least February 7th against the Rangers. Like I said, he’s one of the leaders on and off the ice for the Bruins now, and while he’s watching from the press box Frank will presumably continue playing over the next 3 games (maybe it’s no coincidence that Frank is in the lineup in place of Marchand).

These two guys should be attached at the hip over the next week: drive to practice together, eat meals together, play video games together, whatever. Vatrano will be 24 in a month and a half, and with his entry-level contract expiring at the end of this season his potential career could be in the balance. When Marchand was 24 he had already won a Stanley Cup, had been to a second Cup Final, and had two 20-goal seasons under his belt. This is a great opportunity for growth for both players, and as a fan I can truly think of no better outcome than me falling flat on my face. Go get ’em boys!