A troubling report was made regarding Brad Marchand's future with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand would defend Jim Montgomery after an altercation on the bench during the game against the Utah Hockey Club.
Marchand's giveaway would lead to a Utah goal against the Bruins, and set the bench boss, Montgomery on fire.
«It's unfortunate how coaches are scrutinized over things like that. There's a lack of accountability nowadays because people can't handle the heat. You make a mistake like that, you deserve to hear about it,» Marchand said.
Marchand staying humble as the team's Captain opted for a diplomatic mood after the conflagration already had taken place.
There would be concerns raised after the confrontation as Marchand and his agent is in negotiations for a contract extension after this season. Marchand is still playing on a $6.125 Million deal, which expires at the end of the season.
After the Bruin's last debacle with Jeremy Swayman, the team is reportedly in no rush to extend Marchand according to Nick Kypreos.
«Coming off a lengthy Jeremy Swayman contract standoff, it appears the Bruins are in no rush to address their captain's soon-to-be expiring contract,» Kypreos said in The Toronto Star.
«Brad Marchand, at age 36, is finishing a team-friendly deal worth $6.1 million per season. I'm wondering if President Cam Neely has 25 or 30 million reasons for Marchand to want to stick around,» he added.
Sportsnets Michael Amato would pour gasoline onto the fire noting that Marchand may not be interested in taking a team-friendly deal with the Bruins this time around.
«I don't necessarily think Marchand is going to demand a raise, but he may not be so eager to take a massive discount like old pal Patrice Bergeron did at the end of his career. Marchand could very well end up playing a few more seasons and he's already spent a handful of years on a discount.
Would Marchand be willing to bet himself out of a contract in Boston? It seems unreal that the Captain wouldn't be putting on the spoked B anytime in 2025-2026.
"That could clash with what the Bruins think he's worth at this point in his career. We just witnessed a very contentious contract negotiation with Boston and Jeremy Swayman, where the Bruins ultimately caved somewhat. They may have been OK doing that for a 25-year-old franchise goaltender, but for a declining winger who turns 37 next spring, they might be less willing to bend. Even so, Marchand can still provide impact and he may be most valuable to the Bruins because he would help keep their championship window open, even if it isn't as wide as some other teams.»
The altercation with Jim Montgomery could be the pretext the Bruins need to drag out negotiations and be willing to pay less for the aging winger.
The Bruins season has been chaotic, with a 3-4-1 start during the season, and the Bruins want to see the team get back on track before even discussing the winger's future.
Elliotte Friedman sounded worried about the altercation, however.
«You don't see coaches yell at players like that on the bench much anymore,» Friedman said via the '32 Thoughts Podcast on Monday.
It seems like the Bruins are playing the hurry up-and-wait game to see if Marchand can help resolve the team's lack of winning ways.
In doing so, they hedging against the Captain's future for now, until they decide to give him another shot in the Bruins uniform.
But Marchand is a mainstay in the culture, he brings intangibles along with his scoring ability. Is he really that much of a liability? Or is it Jim Montgomery who is the primary offender here?
| POLL |
Will the Boston Bruins extend Brad Marchand at the end of the 2024-2025 season? |
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Previously on Bruins Insider
