Boston: At the NHL, the commercial season always begins with a single agreement. A play that announces that the teams are ready to make movements. Once the domino falls, the rumors become stronger and the tension in the changing rooms around the leagues is a little higher.
The 2025 version of this trade took place a week ago when Avalanche, Hurricanes and Blackhawks redistributed young stars, drafts and salary space.
For the first time in a long time, the Bruise Direct -Fone to the date of March 7. Do they try to improve this year or by the road?
All this does Brad Marchand One of the most interesting players of the NHL within the deadline. Bruins’s captain will turn 37 in May and is a free agent after the season. There have been no leaks or concrete rumors that are available, only speculations. It would be a rent. Only the teams that trust their possibilities of a deep career would be on the market of their services.
But for a team with a legitimate opportunity to win, it would be attractive. Marchand is a proven battle leader, who can still produce a 5-on-5 offense and is still a good penalty killer. And teams like a guy who won a Stanley Cup. If the Bruins are ready to listen, there will be teams that will make offers. And of the Bruins that could be available, it could recover. Given how many Boston players have complete or partial protection without trade, Don Sweeney’s trade options are limited.
Commitment is identity. All the players who have gone through the Bruins in recent years have praised Culture in Boston. The players have been excited to unite and come to the Bruins because of this. Marchand has been the tonal, taking the baton of Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara. And he is the last boy to stay with a 2011 ring.
What really means is difficult to quantify. The rangers unleashed early this year when the front office was wrapped in their identity. But Marchand has respect between his teammates and confidence from the office. They like Matt Poitras, Justin Brazeau and Mason Lohrei to spend the first years of their NHL races around Marchand.
Prior to the season, Don Sweeney and Cam Neely did an extension to allow Marchand Complete his career As a darrin Sounds like an eventuality. But they made these statements the same afternoon when they were called the legitimate Stanley Cup contestants. At this point, they did not even take into account the possibility that they could lose their playoffs or be a deadline.
And they may not be. Bruins’ property does not like to lose the playoffs. In 2022, Charlie Jacobs said he did not think that the basis of fanatics would accept the team coming.
“I think it would be very difficult to sell in this market in our fanbase,” he said. “We are a team of head, that is, we will spend to the maximum to deliver the best product we may possibly be in our fans and this will not change. In that sense, I hope people could put it in their posterior pocket and understand that We are committed to winning a Stanley Cup and we will do everything you need to return to the threshold. “
The first part of this date suggests that it does not believe that the sale would fly, but to do “everything needed” to reach a Stanley Cup threshold may require sale.
The reason for negotiating Marchand is the same as the argument that the Celtics should have exchanged Kevin Mchale in the early 1990’s. He releases an age that is over with the hope of marking the next.
The Bruins were not experimental when Chara wanted to return once again and all they did to leave it was a place of classification. But they had Bergeron ready to take on leadership. Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak – Marchand’s possible successors are much less experienced.
Actually, “Bruins should trade Marxand?” Should not be a yes or no question. It should be: Is the table offer large enough to make trade worthy?
Bruins did not have enough with Ray Bourque, Joe Thornton or Tyler Seguin. But none of these are comparisons of apples to apples.
If Marchand wanted to leave, and he has not made any hint he does, this changes the equation and puts into play the precedent of Ray Bourque. But Marchand has won a Stanley Cup, while Bourque was trying to get there before retiring. Both Thornton and follow were in place.
For obvious reasons, Marchand hesitated to speak after the loss of Thursday.
“I have no control over this. So I’ll worry about what’s going on here and play for this group,” he said. “And whenever I’m here, I’m a Boston Bruin and that’s what worries me.”
The fact of giving away Marx and for half -round options or perspectives strips do nothing. It does not negotiate it for a high choice or a good perspective that could be an angular stone. If they do not sell it, reach and announce an extension of the contract would also be smart.
It will be a critical months for Don Sweeney. After their free officers fell last year, he is likely to feel pressure to do something to improve the Bruins. Marchand is one of the most popular players in the history of the franchise. Finally he will be in the Fama Hall with his retired number. Everything Sweeney decides with Marchand, you can’t afford to go wrong.
Follow Masslive Matt Vautour Sports Columnist on twitter a @MattVautour424.
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