Bruins' Brad Marchand Issues Sharp Warning on Contract Talks
Longtime Boston Bruins staple Brad Marchand is entering the final season of his
eight-year, $49 million contract with the franchise but you won't hear a word about his signing of an extension coming off his mouth.
Marchand made it clear that he’s not interested in discussing contract negotiations publicly while addressing reporters at the media session held on Tuesday, September 3, at the Bruins captain practice.
“I’m going to say this now and kind of leave it at that, but I won’t ever talk about contract stuff in the media,” Marchand said,
via Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com. “Whatever goes on will stay between [GM Don Sweeney] and our group, and we’ll leave it at that. I think there’s enough respect between the two sides that we can deal with it.”
Though Marchand remains tight-lipped on his contract situation, both he and the Bruins have expressed a mutual desire for him to remain in Boston long-term.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney previously mentioned that the team’s goal is to have Marchand retire as a Bruin. For his part, Marchand would love nothing more than to spend his entire career in Boston.
Marchand, however, emphasized that he’s not yet ready to walk away from the game (he's 36 and wants to play until he's "at least 40," per Benjamin) so if there is any issue with re-signing in Boston he'd have to move on from the only franchise he's ever known.
“The way that I kind of feel about that is, as long as my body is holding up and I can compete at a high level then, yes,” Marchand said,
via Shawn Hutcheon of The Fourth Period. “We’re very fortunate to play this game. We live a lot of kids’ dreams, and I live my dream every day.”
Over 1,029 NHL games, Marchand has accumulated 929 points (401 goals, 528 assists) along with 1,051 penalty minutes. He's also appeared in 157 postseason games scoring 56 goals and assisting 82 for 138 total points. He won the Stanley Cup in 2011.
