Last season, there was no question Marchand was an offensive force. The question was whether he could continue at that rate -- scoring 37 goals in 77 games -- for another season. He proved he could.
Marchand reached 37 goals in 73 games this season, tying Sidney Crosby at the top of the NHL leaderboard after a dominating stretch since Jan. 7, when the left wing scored 47 points (27 goals, 20 assists) in 30 games. He now has 85 points (39 goals, 46 assists) in 79 games.
"[Marchand] a great guy and a real good player," said Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock, who coached him with Team Canada in the World Cup of Hockey 2016. "Plays hard. He's competitive. He's all in every day. He does a good job for his team. He's a top three player in the League, if not one of the best players right now in this League this year, and no one is driving his team harder."
At 28 years old, Marchand has become one of the best offensive players in the NHL who plays in every situation -- five-on-five, power play, penalty kill -- even if he still has moments he regrets, such as Tuesday when he received a five-minute major and game misconduct for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin and will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Thursday as a result.