Brad Marchand is one of this summer's hottest free agents.
On July 1, many players are expected to hit the open market for NHL Free Agency, and one of the hottest names that could be available is Brad Marchand. It begs the question: Should the Washington Capitals go for it?
Marchand is a 37-year-old winger, and although he is up there in age, he still proves that he's valuable to any team. He was a catalyst on the Boston Bruins for several years before being traded to the Florida Panthers.
Marchand finished the regular season with 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points. In the playoffs he helped the Panthers capture their second straight Stanley Cup.
That spring saw him score 10 goals and add 10 assists for 20 points. The fact that he's in his 30's and still puts up consistent 20 goal seasons should be a factor in the Capitals trying to add him.
What will make him a tricky add is what kind of price and what kind of cap space the Capitals have. Though things look better now that Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie's deals are officially off the books.
While Marchand doesn't fit the whole getting younger mentality, he would be a veteran presence in the locker room.
Marchand is reliable and versatile and can play a different role and adapt to it. He can also bring stability to a team that could be in the last year of the Alex Ovechkin era and could be entering a transitionary period.
It would be fun to have Marchand be a pest among other teams. He was just that when facing the Capitals or any team for that matter. He could also be on a line with Tom Wilson that can pack a one two punch.
Marchand has spent over 16 years in the NHL and has recorded 980 points in 1,100 NHL games. He earned a reputation around the league as a hard nosed and irritating player who is a nightmare for opposing players but an asset to any team.
The Caps are looking at adding a skilled forward to plug in the gaps on their second and third line. They are also trying to find a solution at third line center.
Luckily in Marchand he has taken on that role already and can help add depth to any lineup. Washington has $9.3 million in projected cap space this summer.
Having Marchand in the Caps locker room would be fun. The question is will Chris Patrick do it?
