Brad Marchand missed one game that everyone thought was for rest purposes.
But when the Team Canada veteran didn’t play on Sunday against France, either, that changed things. All of a sudden, the concern about Marchand’s availability rose.
He wasn’t needed against France, of course. That was a comfortable 10-2 win for the Canadians.
He likely won’t be needed in the quarterfinal round, either.
But as the possibility of medals get closer, Canada would surely like Marchand back on the ice. Right now, he’s nowhere to be found.
MORE: Chloe Kim’s silver medal has some controversy
How long is Brad Marchand out?
At this point, no one really knows.
Marchand was supposed to be back Sunday. Canada head coach Jon Cooper had suggested that his Friday absence was for rest and to get Seth Jarvis onto the ice for game action.
With essentially both Friday and Saturday off then for Marchand, Sunday was his slated return date. But then he didn’t return.
The quarterfinals will take place Wednesday, so if Marchand is healing from some kind of injury, he’ll have a few more days.
MORE: Controversy and cursing with Canada curling
There’s always a chance this is actually a tactical move by Canada and that Cooper likes a different lineup arrangement more than when he has Marchand out there.
Cooper will mostly play mum on this, but he’ll surely get asked plenty about it.
Marchand is a key veteran leader for Canada, and they’re missing at least a little something when he’s not out there.
If it really is just a healthy scratch, then Marchand would either have to come back in for Jarvis or maybe for Nick Suzuki. Stay tuned here, because this isn’t solved yet.
