2 weeks Ago By Lyle Richardson
Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is among the noteworthy stars eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The 36-year-old left wing is in the final season of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $6.13 million.
He also has an eight-team no-trade list. Marchand has spent his entire 16-season NHL career with the Bruins. A pesky, highly-skilled forward, he's been a vital part of their roster's core, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2011 and reach the Final in 2013 and 2019.
He's also helped them win the Presidents' Trophy three times, including their record-setting 65-win, 135-point performance in 2022-23 . It was in 2015-16 that Marchand enjoyed his breakout performance as a star with 37 goals and 61 points. From that season through 2023-24, he reached or exceeded 30 goals and 80 points five times, leading the Bruins with 701 total points.
On Sep. 20, 2023, he succeeded Patrice Bergeron as team captain . At his age, Marchand won't get a lucrative long-term deal.
He could land a short-term one for roughly the same cap hit from the Bruins or another club via next summer's free-agent market. On Oct. 26, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman claimed Marchand and the Bruins were closing in on a three-year extension.
He swiftly replied that Friedman's report was false. "If I was going to sign a three-year extension, it would be signed," said Marchand. "Clearly, Elliotte is just wrong here.
" Marchand's remarks don't mean he and team management aren't having talks but they want to keep them out of the press. It wouldn't be shocking if the two sides agreed to an extension well before July 1. However, Boston's early-season struggles could raise questions about Marchand's future in Boston.
After all, if the Tampa Bay Lightning could part ways with former franchise player Steven Stamkos after 16 seasons, the Bruins could do the same with Marchand. Here are five way-too-early landing spots if he and the Bruins fail to work out an extension and they're out of the playoff chase by March 7. Feel free to express your thoughts on this topic in the app comments below.
The CarolinaHurricanes have been among the top teams in the Eastern Conferenceover the past four seasons . However, they've been eliminated from thesecond round of the playoffs three times and were swept from the 2023Eastern Conference Final by the Florida Panthers. A provenpostseason performer with leadership ability like Marchand could bejust what the Hurricanes need to get over the hump and into theStanley Cup Final.
He could skate on the first line at left wingalongside center Sebastian Aho or on the second line with right wingMartin Necas and center Jesperi Kotkaniemi. With $3.4 millionin projected trade deadline cap space , the Hurricanes can afford theremainder of Marchand's average annual value by the March 7 tradedeadline.
They could also sweeten the trade return to the Bruins ifthe latter agreed to retain part of his cap hit. The Bruins couldask for defenseman Alexander Nikishin but the Hurricanes won't partwith their top prospect for a rental player. They could instead askfor left winger Bradly Nadeau in the deal along with a first-rounderand perhaps one of the Hurricanes' two third-rounders in the 2025 draft.
Colorado Avalanchecaptain Gabriel Landeskog has been attempting a comeback from theknee surgeries that have sidelined him since the end of the 2022Stanley Cup Final. Head coach Jared Bednar said the 32-year-old leftwinger suffered a setback in his recovery, but the team remainshopeful he'll return later this season. TheAvalanche could be in the market for a top-six left winger withStanley Cup experience by the March 7 trade deadline if Landeskogremains sidelined.
Marchand could be a good fit in Colorado, perhapson the same line with fellow Nova Scotia native and offseasontraining partner Nathan MacKinnon. Having Landeskogon long-term injury reserve by the trade deadline would give theAvalanche enough cap room to acquire the remainder of Marchand's caphit or take on part of it if the Bruins agree to retain some of it tofacilitate a trade. That would require a sweetener in the deal.
Landing Marchandcould cost the Avalanche a promising young forward like Calum Ritchieor Ivan Ivan or a prospect like defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev. TheBruins could seek their 2026 first-rounder in the deal or oneof their second-rounders. Since joining the NHLin 2000-01, the Minnesota Wild have never advanced beyond the Western Conference Final.
They're off to a strong start this season led by KirillKaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, Matt Boldy, and Marco Rossi. If they maintain thispace, GM Bill Guerin could become a buyer to improve his team'schances for a Stanley Cup run. Brad Marchand'sleadership skills, abrasive style, and proven playoff record couldmake him an enticing postseason rental player for the Wild.
He couldfit in well at left wing alongside Eriksson Ek and Boldy on the second line . With $6.8 millionin projected trade deadline cap space , the Wild could afford to takeon Marchand.
They could still attempt to get the Bruins to retainpart of his cap hit to give them some extra wiggle room for anothermove or two before the March 7 trade deadline. Acquiring Marchandcould cost the Wild promising young forward Liam Öhgren or MaratKhusnutdinov. The Bruins could also seek a first-rounder and perhapsone of the Wild's two third-rounders in 2026.
This one is a longshot given the Penguins' early-season struggles and salary caplimitations. Nevertheless, we can't dismiss the possibility theybecome buyers if they're in playoff contention by the March 7 tradedeadline. The opportunity toreunite Marchand with his 2016 World Cup of Hockey linemate andoffseason training partner Sidney Crosby could be too tempting topass up.
They could also have him line up at left wing alongside Evgeni Malkin on their second line . Where it getstricky is in trade deadline cap space. The Penguins have $420,764 available , meaning general manager Kyle Dubas would have to getcreative to add Marchand.
That could mean involving a third team tospread the cap hit around or a separate cost-cutting move to free upsufficient room for the Bruins winger. The Bruins couldseek the Penguins' first-rounder in 2025 or 2026 as part of thereturn. They could also ask for a promising prospect such asdefenseman Owen Pickering or a forward like Ville Koivunen or VasilyPonomarev.
The Vegas GoldenKnights aren't afraid to make big trades to ice a Stanley Cupcontender. That was clear leading up to last season's trade deadline,acquiring defenseman Noah Hanifin and center Tomáš Hertl in two oflast season's biggest moves. It wouldn't besurprising if the Golden Knights got into the bidding for BradMarchand if he became available by the March 7 trade deadline.
Theycould use an established scoring left winger with leadership skillsand championship experience on their second line alongside Hertl andright wing Pavel Dorofeyev. The Golden Knightsdon't have much cap space but could accrue $5.6 million by the tradedeadline.
That could give them sufficient wiggle room to acquireMarchand's remaining daily cap hit by deadline day. They could also ask the Bruins to retain part of hiscap hit (depending on the return) or swing a three-team trade tospread the cap hit around. It could cost theGolden Knights a couple of draft picks (including their 2027first-rounder ) and a quality prospect like Trevor Connelly or apromising player like Kaeden Korczak to land Marchand.
However,they're unafraid to sacrifice their future for a player who can helpthem right away and could even try to re-sign Marchand after this season. Stats via NHL.com .
salary info via PuckPedia , and line combinations via Daily Faceoff ..
