Brad Marchand, Bruins closing in on extension

Brad Marchand is getting ready to re-up in Massachusetts.

The Boston Bruins and their captain are moving closer to a deal that will likely ensure the 36-year-old remains a Bruin for life, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada.

“The team’s been struggling but he’s had a strong week. Completely diffusing any controversy about the exchange last week with Jim Montgomery on the bench in Utah,” Friedman said. “The word is that the Bruins and Marchand are getting closer on an extension expected to be three years.

“We’ll see what happens in the next little bit, but the word is they are getting closer.”

Marchand is in the final year of an eight-year, $49 million contract that he signed in 2016. Since signing that contract, he’s scored 248 goals and 644 points and played an instrumental role in leading the team to a Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

He reached the pinnacle with the Bruins in 2011 when they beat the Vancouver Canucks in seven games to win the franchise’s sixth Stanley Cup.

Marchand was named captain ahead of the 2023-24 season after the retirement of Patrice Bergeron and subsequently played all 82 games last season, posting 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points.

With 933 points in 1,037 games, Marchand currently sits fifth all-time in Bruins’ points leaders, behind only Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Bergeron and Phil Esposito.