Brad Marchand says goal is to retire with Bruins
The captain is making it clear that he wants to stay as the Bruins navigate their approach to the trade deadline.
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Brad Marchand has been a member of the Boston Bruins for his entire 17-year career but with the team slipping in the standings and his contract set to expire, the possibility of the two sides splitting up is suddenly on the table.
But the captain is making it clear that he wants to stay.
“I’ve always planned on playing here my entire career,” Marchand said Monday. “That hasn’t changed. They’re aware of that. I think everyone’s aware of that. It’s a gift to be playing for this team and I take a tremendous amount of pride in it. So yeah, that’s always been a goal.”
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The Bruins enter play Monday with 61 points, one behind the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets for the final wild-card spot in the east. But while they remain in the race, the Bruins rank near the bottom of the league with a negative-26 goal differential and are now playing without top defencemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm, who are both out long-term.
In that context, general manager Don Sweeney declared over the weekend that the club would not be aggressive buyers at the trade deadline as it has been during most of his 10-year tenure. Sweeney’s comments, in which he said “we will look at all opportunities to improve our team now, but more importantly, moving forward,” caused some to wonder if Marchand and his expiring contract would be a valuable trade asset for the Bruins.
When asked Monday about that possibility Marchand said he is treating this year’s deadline like any other by just focusing on things he can control.
“Even in your best years, guys get moved or things happen,” Marchand said of the deadline. “You have no control over things like that and you really can’t get caught up worrying about it.
“The team is always going to do what they feel is best for the group.”
