With the NHL trade deadline just over three weeks away, the Boston Bruins are facing uncertainty about their next move. The big question: Will they be buyers, sellers, or simply stand pat? The latter seems unlikely, and even the idea of being buyers is becoming less probable. All signs indicate the Bruins will likely be sellers, though the scale of the moves remains to be seen.
A retooling of the roster is necessary, and the sooner General Manager Don Sweeney and President Cam Neely recognize this, the better it will be for the team. Even the fans have acknowledged this reality and are calling for change. A retool has been overdue for quite some time.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Bruins at the trade deadline is the future of captain Brad Marchand. Does the front office move on from this franchise legend, or does he finish his career with the Bruins? It’s a tough decision.
Several teams would love to add Marchand for the playoff push. While he may not be the player he once was, his postseason experience and leadership would be a valuable asset to any team. According to Jimmy Murphy of RG, Sweeney is receiving inquiries about trading Marchand, suggesting the possibility of a major move.
Despite the rumors, would the Bruins actually part ways with their captain? It’s hard to imagine, but in the unpredictable world of the NHL, anything can happen.
“They’re getting calls on [Marchand], and teams are wondering what they’re going to do here, but, at this point, I think they’re just listening,” an NHL executive source told RG. “Still, the fact that the Bruins or Marchand haven’t come out and shut this down like they have in the past is telling. With the silence around contract talks, this is starting to feel more serious.”
While the situation is evolving, the key question remains: How serious is it? There’s little chance the Bruins will make a move during the 4 Nations Face-Off, and they’ll likely wait until after the break to assess how the team performs before deciding on the next steps.
Later, the NHL executive noted, “The fact that the Bruins or Marchand haven’t publicly shut down the idea like they’ve done in the past is telling. The quiet around contract talks only adds to the notion that this is becoming real.”
This is true, though it’s worth noting that Marchand has never been one to publicly discuss contract matters, and neither has Sweeney when it comes to negotiations. Remember how quietly the team handled Jeremy Swayman’s contract situation last summer? Not a word from either party.
Ultimately, Marchand’s future in Boston will likely be decided by the trade deadline on March 7. And while nothing is certain, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. Time will reveal the truth.
