Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand set to retire? he just confirmed it

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Joshua Deeds
September 4, 2024 (9:32)

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With the Hockey News faulty reporting on Brad Marchand's current contract negotiations with the Bruins, you have to wonder what's next for the Bruins Captain.

He's always skated in the NHL with a chip on his shoulder and built a legitimate hall-of-fame career out of it.

He is humble enough, at age 36 and the Bruins captain that his spot on the depth chart is never secure. But that is why he's locked in for the new season.

«I feel like as you get older - I've said this to a few people - I feel like you almost need to establish yourself like a young guy again,» Marchand said. «There's so much talk these days about as you get older, you can't play and teams don't want or don't like guys that are in their 30s or mid-30s, whatever it is. As you get older, everyone's trying to push you out.

«The young guys are trying to take your job and teams are looking to go young, and you almost have that same mindset, that you need to show that you can still play and keep up with the young guys and keep up with the new talent and the speed.

«So in some ways, I'm definitely a lot more comfortable coming in - understanding what it's like, what's expected - but in the same sense, you need to re-establish every single year you come in that you're still right there and belong and these young bucks aren't going to take my job.»

He did undergo three surgeries during the off-season, which means he's not in the same shape he was last season. While he has 1,029 games underneath his belt, he acknowledges he will have to ramp up his training, as he only began 2 weeks ago.

«I'm just kind of getting back into it,» Marchand said. «I don't know if you guys heard, but I was skating by myself. The goal is to be ready for camp and if not, very shortly after. I'm just kind of getting back into the swing of things now. I'm gonna hit it all head-on.»

He went under the knife in 2022, with a double-hip arthroscopy, and this season repairing three injuries. While he now has a clean bill of health, playing catch up will be difficult.

With such a massive resume under his name, with a Stanley Cup in 2011, and an increase in production as his career progresses, along with earning the Captaincy, will he hang up the skates soon?

Or will he attempt to play into 2026 and secure a spot on the 2026 Winter Olympics team?

«It's very easy, especially as you get older and you've been around for a long time and accomplished a lot of things you want to accomplish,» Marchand said. «You feel comfortable in your financial situation to want to be around the house more, be with the kids, be involved in sports and activities and not be at the rink or the gym as often. That's where guys slip.

«The biggest factor is understanding that guys are coming in and gunning for jobs. It doesn't matter who you are. They're just as happy to take my spot as anyone else's.»