Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
The future of Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand sounds unclear, assuming you buy into the trade chatter being promoted by the media and a few notable NHL insiders.
What once seemed unthinkable is now being discussed more seriously as the Bruins struggle to stay in playoff contention. They sit just outside a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The conversation began when The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa suggested Marchand could be a trade candidate, citing a league source who said, “All bets are off.”
Marchand has an eight-team no-trade clause, and Shinzawa suggested there was a potential opportunity to put Marchand on a contender and pick up some valuable assets in a trade. Marchand would undoubtedly be a strong addition to a contending team.
It was later noted by Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, that, while he initially dismissed the idea of a Marchand trade, he’s started to believe there might be something to the chatter. “They have played more games than anybody else in the race,” Friedman said. “If Boston takes on water, I’m really going to be curious to see where this goes.”
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes jumped in as well during an interview on TSN with Gino Reda. He argued that Boston owed Marchand a chance to make the call. Given the Bruins’ recent public relations gaffes, he suggested they go to Marchand and say, “We’re going to give you the opportunity to make a decision.” Weekes mentioned a handful of teams that he thought would be exciting options, including the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.
Would It Be Worth It for the Bruins?
The return could be significant if the Bruins were to explore a trade. Shinzawa reported that an agent believes Boston could receive a second-round pick and a young, team-controlled player in return. The way rentals have garnered first-rounders this season in early trades, the return might be higher.
It would be asking a lot for the Bruins to feel comfortable moving on from one of the franchise’s greatest players. Even if a trade offer was made that the team liked, there would be consequences among the fan base.
Marchand maintains that he wants to remain a Bruin and he doesn’t think about trades or rumors of the organization moving on. He gets it is a business, but he’s focused on the season and the 4 Nations Face-Off. All that said, the next few weeks could be pivotal in determining Marchand’s future with the Bruins.
If the team continues to struggle and/or falls out of contention, a blockbuster trade could become a real possibility.
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