Boston Bruins Face Locker Room Drama Amid Losing Streak
The Boston Bruins are in the midst of a challenging six-game losing streak that began on December 31. As they prepare to face the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, on Saturday, tensions surrounding the team appear to be escalating.
On Friday, a report from Rich Keefe, host of the “Jones & Keefe” show, suggested internal turmoil within the Bruins’ locker room. According to Keefe, there is friction between star players Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, with Pastrnak reportedly expressing a desire not to share the ice with Marchand.
“The locker room is a disaster, and David Pastrnak is at the center of that,” Keefe claimed during the show. “Pastrnak has told the team he doesn’t want to be on a line with Brad Marchand, and it may stem from Marchand criticizing Pastrnak’s play.”
This revelation quickly sparked controversy, and both Marchand and Pastrnak publicly dismissed the claims.
—
Players Deny Rumors of Feud
David Pastrnak, speaking with reporters after Friday’s practice, firmly denied Keefe’s allegations. “I’ve never in my life said I don’t want to play with this guy to the coaching staff or management, and I never would,” he stated, as reported by Jim McBride of the Boston Globe. “I love playing with Marchy. We’ve been best friends for years.”
Brad Marchand also addressed the rumors, using strong language to refute the report and criticize Keefe’s journalistic integrity.
“I’ve heard what was said in the media this morning. It’s unfortunate,” Marchand said. “I know reporters have a job to do, and that job is to report on the team. Usually, you try to be fact-based. But when there’s just blatant lies told in the media, that’s where there’s a problem.”
Marchand didn’t hold back, adding, “The fact this guy has a platform and is just making this up is embarrassing. There’s zero truth to anything he said. This is how you lose a job very quickly. The fact that he’s gonna have a job after this is insane.”
Marchand also defended Pastrnak, labeling him as one of the most respected and well-liked members of the team.
“There’s zero truth to him being a problem in the room,” Marchand continued. “He’s one of the most loved guys in the room. There’s zero issues in the room at all, and to say he’s at the center of anything is a completely fabricated lie. This guy has zero merit to anything he’s saying.”
—
Keefe Responds to Criticism
Despite the strong pushback from both players, Keefe doubled down on his report. In a post shared on social media, he sarcastically thanked Marchand for “confirming” the story through his passionate response.
“Now I got Marchand calling for my job?” Keefe wrote, referencing Marchand’s fiery remarks. “No one acts this way if the story is really false. Thanks for the confirmation.”
—
Bruins’ Struggles Add to the Drama
Amid the off-ice drama, the Bruins’ on-ice performance has also been under scrutiny. Boston’s current record stands at 20-19-5. Once considered a contender in the Atlantic Division, the team has now dropped out of the top three and is clinging to the Eastern Conference’s wild-card lead with 45 points.
As the team prepares to face the Florida Panthers on Saturday, the spotlight will be on whether they can overcome both their losing streak and the swirling rumors about locker room tension.
—
Bottom Line
The reported feud between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak has added another layer of complexity to the Bruins’ struggles. However, both players have strongly denied any issues, emphasizing their longstanding friendship and mutual respect.
With the team in a precarious position, both on and off the ice, it remains to be seen whether the Bruins can rally together and return to winning form. For now, the focus is on shutting down distractions and proving the doubters wrong.
