On the Boston Bruins and Brad Marchand …
DJ Bean of WEEI: Bruins GM Don Sweeney said he’s begun contract talks with forward Brad Marchand. Marchand is entering the final season of his deal that carries a $4.5 million salary cap hit. A deal likely won’t come cheap after recording a career high 37 goals last year. Sweeney wouldn’t say if contract would come quickly, but added that he plans on keeping Marchand.
“I think I’ve been pretty up front that I’d like to be aggressive in trying to identify from what we have, I’ve identified March as a core guy and we want to continue down that path,” Sweeney said. “It always takes two sides to make a deal, and I would envision that he’d like to be part of this organization for what could be arguably his whole career, but Brad has a say in this as well.”
Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Bruins GM Sweeny on Marchand.
“I’ve started talks with Brad’s group,” said Sweeney. “I think I’ve been pretty upfront with the fact that we’ve identified as a core guy, and we want to continue down that path. It always takes two sides to make a deal, and I would envision that he’d like to be a part of this organization for what could arguably be his whole career. Brad has a say in this as well, but as far as talking contracts that’s about as far as I’ll go in that regard.”
Marchand has said in the past that he’d like to finish his career with the Bruins.
“I would love to be a part of this organization for the rest of my career, but the reality is when you look around the league that it doesn’t happen for many guys. We’ll deal with it when the time comes, I don’t think anybody is going to push it right now.”