Brad Marchand Trade Rumours Heat Up After The Boston Bruins Approached Him With A Controversial Decision
Photo credit: The Hockey News
Caveat Emptor, Brad Marchand being Captain of the Boston Bruins won't protect you from a trade. It appears that GM Don Sweeney of the team might only offer him a year extension with the team, could they end up at an impasse?
The Boston Bruins have to make the decision of whether they want to keep Captain Brad Marchand around for long.
Marchand is currently playing out his final, eight-year $49 Million deal which paid him an AAV of $6.125 Million. A team-friendly deal, as Marchand wants the team to weaponize the cap to win a Stanley Cup.
Yet with the Bruins reaching a point of no return this season, could he be a victim of the Bruins' Stanley Cup aspirations?
NHL Insider Nick Kypreos believes that the team would like to keep the 37-year-old Captain on a one-year deal, year-to-year and Marchand prefers a deal with term instead.
«It's notable that Marchand is represented by the same agency (Newport) as Steven Stamkos, who refused to take less value to stay in Tampa Bay and ended up signing elsewhere. Don't expect Marchand to take less value than he feels he's worth either.
«Even Zdeno Chara (at 43 years old) left the Bruins and played two more years in the NHL before calling it quits.
«In some ways, this could be a comparable scenario to Joe Pavelski. San Jose was at a crossroads and didn't want to give him an extra year when he was 35 years old, so Pavelski signed a three-year deal with Dallas and was a highly productive player for them. In fact, he signed two more one-year deals with the Stars and retired at 40 years old. This is why Boston has to think long and hard about giving term to Marchand, their captain and second-highest scorer.»
«Even Zdeno Chara (at 43 years old) left the Bruins and played two more years in the NHL before calling it quits.
«In some ways, this could be a comparable scenario to Joe Pavelski. San Jose was at a crossroads and didn't want to give him an extra year when he was 35 years old, so Pavelski signed a three-year deal with Dallas and was a highly productive player for them. In fact, he signed two more one-year deals with the Stars and retired at 40 years old. This is why Boston has to think long and hard about giving term to Marchand, their captain and second-highest scorer.»
Kypreos put Marchand on his Trade Watch as two sides could clash on the term of the deal with his next contract extension.
He could be on the chopping block next, if the team fails to secure a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
«Though this is still heading towards an amicable resolution, if Boston's hold on a playoff spot keeps loosening, Marchand will more and more become a situation of great interest.
«Until we hear about more firm negotiations between Marchand and the Bruins, he remains on this list.»
«Until we hear about more firm negotiations between Marchand and the Bruins, he remains on this list.»
It'd be a huge loss for the Bruins, and their fans should Marchand and the team part ways. Given GM Don Sweeney's typical tactics, there's no telling where this could end up.
But he is the last of the Bruins to win a Stanley Cup in 2011 and is a fan favorite.
They should be begging him to stay at this point.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 19 | 1076 ANSWERS Brad Marchand Trade Rumours Heat Up After The Boston Bruins Approached Him With A Controversial Decision Should GM Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins sign forward Brad Marchand to a long-term deal? | ||
| Yes | 635 | 59 % |
| No | 441 | 41 % |
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