What is the latest on the Bruins' captain?
The Boston Bruins are sitting outside of the Eastern Conference playoffs with tough decisions ahead of them. This is a new position for GM Don Sweeney, as Boston has not missed the playoffs since 2016. One of the pending free agents the Bruins could trade at the deadline is captain Brad Marchand. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston have the latest on a potential Marchand trade and his contract negotiations.
“Meanwhile, it’s down to white-knuckle time on negotiations with captain Brad Marchand,” the insiders wrote. “Both sides would like to get something done, with the term being the main sticking point in talks to date. One thing that does not appear likely is Boston shipping the heart-and-soul legacy player out of town.'
Marchand is in the final year of an eight-year contract paying him $6.125 million per season. He has spent his entire career with the Bruins and was named the captain after Zdeno Chara left in 2021. The team should not treat this captain the same, as Chara spent the final years of his career with the Islanders and Capitals.
But term is a big issue for a 36-year-old forward. Even with the salary cap set to explode, the Bruins do not want to pay Marchand deep into his 40s. Despite his age, Marchand is still having a great offensive season with 21 goals in 61 games. This is his 12th consecutive 20-goal season, all while a member of the Bruins.
The Bruins could trade Marchand and tell him they will re-sign him in the offseason. That is not a move hockey teams traditionally make, so don't expect that from Sweeney. But even if the negotiations continue into the summer, it would be stunning to see Marchand in any other jersey.
Bruins’ Brad Marchand out with upper-body injury
Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand will not be the lineup Sunday versus the Minnesota Wild due to an upper-body injury, reports Jim McBride of the Boston Globe.
Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, Marchand exited early into the first period and did not return following a hit by Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph. While Marchand will not play Sunday versus the Wild, McBride notes that he traveled with the team to Minnesota and will be re-evaluated Monday upon the team’s return from its two-game road trip.
On the season, Marchand has made 61 appearances with the Bruins in which he has recorded 21 goals and 26 assists to sit second in team scoring with 47 points. Marchand has also registered 62 penalty minutes and a minus-eight rating.
Originally chosen by Boston in the third round of the 2006 NHL Draft, through 16 seasons and 1,090 career contests the veteran forward has tallied 422 goals and 554 assists for 976 points to rank fifth all-time in franchise scoring. A five-time 30-plus goal-scorer, Marchand set a career-high 100 points in 2018-19 when he finished with 36 goals and 64 assists coming in 79 games. The 36-year-old native of Halifax, N.S., has also posted 56 goals ands 82 assists for 138 points through 157 postseason appearances, underscored by a Stanley Cup win in 2011. That spring, Marchand put up 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points in 25 games en route to the championship.
In September 2023, Marchand was named captain of the Bruins, becoming the 27th player to wear the ‘C’ in Boston.
Per PuckPedia, Marchand is in the final year of an eight-year contract that carries a $6.125-million annual average value and can become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason.
On the season, the Bruins sit 28-25-8 and two points back of the Atlantic Division rival Detroit Red Wings for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference.
