Stanley Cup Final postcard: Media Day

The 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues will begin in Boston, with Game 1 on Monday and Game 2 on Wednesday. The series will then shift to St. Louis for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday, June 3. NHL.com writers covering the series will provide a daily Stanley Cup Final postcard from whatever city they're in. Today, senior writer Dan Rosen sends his regards from Stanley Cup Final Media Day in Boston.
BOSTON -- Brad Marchand sat up at his podium and looked out at the media members fanned out around him, cameras deep down the middle and reporters wide to his wings, leaning in to make sure they didn't miss a word.

When it comes to plotlines and characters in this Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues, the easy money is on Marchand being front and center. That's why he had the most people interested in what he was saying at Stanley Cup Final Media Day on Sunday.
RELATED: [Complete Bruins vs. Blues series coverage]
The Bruins' full-time left wing and part-time villain delivered the goods, albeit without the controversy that might have spiced up the series before it begins Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS).
Marchand explained his absence from practice Sunday by saying he told Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy he wanted a day off, that he's had enough practice. Can't blame him since the Bruins will have had 10 days off leading into Game 1.

But the goods came when Marchand was fielding questions from a reporter for Bruins Academy, a show for kids that airs on their website. The exchange follows:
Reporter: How would you describe media day
Marchand: It's a whirlwind, but it's a lot of fun. There's not many opportunities in your career that you get to be in front of this many cameras and media and have this much attention on you. So it's fun.
Reporter: What is one thing you can't travel without?
Marchand: Fresh pair of underwear.
Reporter: Who is the first person you call after a big win?
Marchand (almost sheepishly): My wife.

Reporter: What are three things you would put in the Stanley Cup?
Marchand: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, a baby and a lot of alcohol.
Later, in a different exchange, Marchand was asked if he's a "Game of Thrones" fan. He is, so the reporter asked him what character he would be.
"Cersei, the villain," Marchand responded, to no one's surprise.
Told that Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk said center Patrice Bergeron would be Jon Snow, Marchand changed his answer in a clear attempt to make sure he didn't abandon his linemate.
"I'd be Jon Snow's dog," he said. "Just protect him."
So there you go, a little insight for you from Marchand at media day. You're probably not going to find some of those answers anywhere else at any other time in this series.