Confirmed Signing with Link: [BOS] Brad Marchand extension (8 years, $6.125M AAV)

[PAZ]

Solid cap hit, but don't like the term. We've seen way, WAYYYY too many forwards drop off significantly around 30-32 years old to make this safe. I see it being especially risky with a guy like Marchand - he's small and needs to play that super fast, physical, high energy hustle game to be effective, he doesn't have elite skill or size to fall back on as his legs start to slow down. I think there's a pretty major risk that Marchand ages more like Gomez than Jagr.

Not sure what the rush was with the Bruins either, Marchand was already signed for next season, this contract doesn't even kick in until 2017/18. Extending him for 4 years, until he's 33, would have been ideal. 6 years, until he's 35, acceptable. 8 years, until he's 37, is EXTREMELY risky, there could be a tonne of terrible albatross years at the end of that deal.

Maybe it was his comments about enjoying playing with Crosby

 

[heretik27]

Pretty good player and nice AAV. I think that the term may be a bit of a leap of faith though by management. If I'm not mistaken it's the same deal Scheifele just got. Bruins need him and Bergeron to be their leaders if they're going to claw their way back to the top of the East.

 

[Regal]

Solid cap hit, but don't like the term. We've seen way, WAYYYY too many forwards drop off significantly around 30-32 years old to make this safe. I see it being especially risky with a guy like Marchand - he's small and needs to play that super fast, physical, high energy hustle game to be effective, he doesn't have elite skill or size to fall back on as his legs start to slow down. I think there's a pretty major risk that Marchand ages more like Gomez than Jagr.

Not sure what the rush was with the Bruins either, Marchand was already signed for next season, this contract doesn't even kick in until 2017/18. Extending him for 4 years, until he's 33, would have been ideal. 6 years, until he's 35, acceptable. 8 years, until he's 37, is EXTREMELY risky, there could be a tonne of terrible albatross years at the end of that deal.

Agreed. These are the type of deals I think you're better off paying a slightly higher cap hit for better term. I think not enough people realize how few players stay relevant after 32 or so, and that usually the ones who do are star players who have more skills to fall back on as they age. Signing a guy of Bergeron's level to this length deal would still be risky but I can see it being worth it. Someone of Marchand's level, I think you need to pass.

 

[thadd]

Term is too long but the cap hit is excellent.

 

[PsychoDad]

Please, stop making stuff up regarding his age.
He just turned 28 last may, he will be 36 in his last year of contract, not 37.
The only way he is 37 at the end of it is if Boston still manages to be in playoffs by mid may. I think if this happens the deal turned out alright too.

 

[Regal]

Please, stop making stuff up regarding his age.
He just turned 28 last may, he will be 36 in his last year of contract, not 37.
The only way he is 37 at the end of it is if Boston still manages to be in playoffs by mid may. I think if this happens the deal turned out alright too.

Which is still quite old. There were only 6 forwards who were 36 or older last year who scored more than 45 points, and 4 of them are sure fire Hall of Famers.

 

[PsychoDad]

Which is still quite old. There were only 6 forwards who were 36 or older last year who scored more than 45 points, and 4 of them are sure fire Hall of Famers.

It is okay if Marchand is not a 50 point player in his last year. The money will be considered much less in 8 years.

 

[Regal]

It is okay if Marchand is not a 50 point player in his last year. The money will be considered much less in 8 years.

True, but I still think it's better to just pay a little more up front for the years he's more likely to produce. An extra million a season is easier to deal with than a player who is potentially dead weight in the last year or two. Especially with the Bruins in a bit of a retooling phase. It would be more understandable if it was a team like Chicago or Tampa who might want to save every dollar they can now and deal with the consequences later.

 

[Fossy21]

True, but I still think it's better to just pay a little more up front for the years he's more likely to produce. An extra million a season is easier to deal with than a player who is potentially dead weight in the last year or two. Especially with the Bruins in a bit of a retooling phase. It would be more understandable if it was a team like Chicago or Tampa who might want to save every dollar they can now and deal with the consequences later.

GMs have worked their magic to get out of albatross contracts before. 6M in 7-8 years probably won't even be that big of a contract even if he declines a lot. If you're retooling to try and win the cup within 3-4 years, I'd rather take 1-2M less those years and have to deal with the possibility of Marchand declining later. Chicago is an interesting example given that Toews is 12 days older than Marchand, is on a contract that was signed two years before, and will run out 2 years before Brad's does; but who is possibly trending the opposite direction and still paid 72% more. I'm sure Hawks fans will take it (especially with what they've accomplished with him on the team), but it just goes to show what it takes to sign game-changing talent.

 

[vippe]

Great cap hit! Too much term, 6 years and the contract would be awesome

 

[bossram]

Marchand is undoubtedly a very good player and his cap hit accurately reflects his worth as a player right now. However he is not an uber two-way god like Bergeron, neither is he likely to defy the laws of ageing. Around half-way through the deal it's probable he will decline and more probable it looks a lot worse by the end of it.

Of course, that probably won't be Sweeney's problem then.

I wonder if it were possible to have shortened the term to ~5 years at a higher cap hit. Say 6.75-7 million? I think that would be a more palatable situation for the Bruins. I don't think the short-term cap savings now is worth much as I don't see them as legitimate contenders anyway.

 

[The Stig]

As much as I dislike him, good deal. I know what its like having a guy like that on your team. He's a guy you hate, unless he's on your team.

 

[PsychoDad]

Marchand is undoubtedly a very good player and his cap hit accurately reflects his worth as a player right now. However he is not an uber two-way god like Bergeron, neither is he likely to defy the laws of ageing. Around half-way through the deal it's probable he will decline and more probable it looks a lot worse by the end of it.

Of course, that probably won't be Sweeney's problem then.

I wonder if it were possible to have shortened the term to ~5 years at a higher cap hit. Say 6.75-7 million? I think that would be a more palatable situation for the Bruins. I don't think the short-term cap savings now is worth much as I don't see them as legitimate contenders anyway.

He is the Bergeron of wingers, don't kid yourself. And the best SH scorer of this decade by far, he has like 50% on the next guy in SH goals since 2010.

 

[Tim Vezina Thomas]

Great cap hit! Too much term, 6 years and the contract would be awesome

If it was 6 years it would be 7.5mm likely. I'm good with the 8 years.

Pay your good players.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Kadri deal keeps getting better and better

Kadri at 4.5m is better than Marchand at 6.1?

 

[b in vancouver]

Not sure if any player opened more eyes than Marchand during this World Cup. He went from pariah to fan favourite in a pretty big hurry.

I'm just glad they got him signed - and the cap hit is great. Only a $1.6M raise - wow. I have no problem with the term. Having the Bergeron-Marchand combo at 10.5 this year and 12 for the next half decade is an excellent way to build a team.

Marchand, Bergeron, Krejci and Eriksson did everything you could ask from them, and more, last year and nearly carried this team to the playoffs. It was the rest of the team that struggled - especially depth scoring over the last month and a half, no fourth line, an overworked Rask because they couldn't trust The Monster and weak defence. The depth scoring 'should' be better, Khudobin is a major upgrade and should give Rask more of a breather and the fourth line is rebuilt. - Now they need that one upgrade on RHD.

 

[Never]

Honestly, if the deal doesn't start to look bad until year 6 or so, then who cares if it's "too long"? Worry about it in 6 years.

 

[81Leafs50]

too much money. He's not going to score 30 goals consistently. He will be overpaid in no time once his production comes back down to the mean. Same as Lucic.

 

[BruinLVGA]

too much money. He's not going to score 30 goals consistently. He will be overpaid in no time once his production comes back down to the mean. Same as Lucic.

Yeah, no guarantee of that, but...

Once one realizes that he got 37 goals in 77 games, while shooting below his career shooting percentage, getting minimal PP, getting a ton of PK and getting the toughest assignments, while having only 47% offensive zone starts, thing start to change suddenly...

(Clue: he went from 17 minutes a game, to 18 1/2... He simply shot more...)

 

[InfinityIggy]

He will be 36 when this deal finishes. Maybe 1 year too long, but the caphit is fair. Pretty good deal I think.

 

[Pay Carl]

too much money. He's not going to score 30 goals consistently. He will be overpaid in no time once his production comes back down to the mean. Same as Lucic.

Really doesn't matter if he hits 30 every year. He does so much more than just score that even if production dips out in the later years it still won't be horrible if he can keep his defensive game and pesky skills

 

[Glove Malfunction]

Great cap hit! Too much term, 6 years and the contract would be awesome

Marchand is undoubtedly a very good player and his cap hit accurately reflects his worth as a player right now. However he is not an uber two-way god like Bergeron, neither is he likely to defy the laws of ageing. Around half-way through the deal it's probable he will decline and more probable it looks a lot worse by the end of it.

Of course, that probably won't be Sweeney's problem then.

I wonder if it were possible to have shortened the term to ~5 years at a higher cap hit. Say 6.75-7 million? I think that would be a more palatable situation for the Bruins. I don't think the short-term cap savings now is worth much as I don't see them as legitimate contenders anyway.

I'd bet that at 6 years, you're over 7M, and can almost guarantee that at 5 years, you're over, or at least approaching 7.5. This is a situation where you pay either in AAV or in term, and the Bruins felt happier with adding term. I'm just glad they got it done.

 

[Brownies]

Really good deal for Marchand and the Bruins. He's still a valuable player when he's not scoring, so he's worth every cent of that deal and a bit more.

 

[VainGretzky]

More then worth that contract . Marchand is a 100% heart and soul player teams need to win plus he can bury the puck.

 

[Oates2Neely]

I think he'll score 40g this season