Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) an Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) talks during a time out in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Brad Marchand has a well-established reputation as one of the NHL’s most prolific trash talkers.
Whether it’s opponents on the ice or Paul Bissonnette on a TNT panel, it often seems like nobody is safe.
Marchand and Brandon Carlo were teammates for nine seasons in Boston before both players were traded by the Bruins at this year’s deadline. Marchand went to Florida while Carlo landed with the Maple Leafs. Ahead of their first meeting as foes last week, Carlo was anticipating an earful from his longtime teammate.
“It’ll be interesting to see what kind of dirt he has on me,” Carlo said before Toronto’s 3-2 win. “Maybe he’ll leave it off to the wayside, but I’m sure I’ll hear something. I’m not sure what it’ll be, but there will definitely be something.”
But there was a surprising twist.
“Brad Marchand says he didn’t chirp Brandon Carlo in Toronto,” SportsNet’s Luke Fox posted on X. “Carlo chirped him.”
During his time in Boston, Carlo was known as one of the most mild-mannered Bruins.
“It cut deep,” Marchand said ahead of a rematch.
Needless to say, a little friendly banter is likely to come from both sides when the two return to the ice in Florida on Tuesday night. Marchand fired the first shot after morning skate when asked by Toronto reporters what the Maple Leafs were getting in a player like Carlo.
“You got a scumbag,” Marchand smirked. “No, I love Brando. He’s one of my best buddies on the team there. They got an incredible teammate in the room. Great locker room guy. Great competitor. He’s one of the best defenseman at killing plays, one of the best sticks in the league. Just a steady guy that can log a ton of minutes. He wants to win. He competes at a very high level. So they got an incredible player back there and they got him on term too, so a huge pickup for that team.”
