BOSTON — In the NHL, trade season always starts with a single deal. One move that announces that teams are ready to make moves. Once that domino falls, the rumors get louder and the tension in dressing rooms around the leagues gets a little higher.
The 2025 version of that trade happened a week ago when the Avalanche, Hurricanes and Blackhawks redistributed young stars, draft picks and salary cap space.
For the first time in a long time, the Bruins head toward the March 7 date uncertain. Are they trying to get better for this year or for down the road?
All of which makes Brad Marchand one of the NHL’s most interesting players at the deadline. The Bruins captain will turn 37 in May and is a free agent after the season. There’s been no concrete leaks or rumors that he is available, just speculation. He’d be a rental. Only teams who are confident in their chances to make a deep run would be in the market for his services.
But for a team with a legitimate chance to win, he’d be appealing. Marchand is a battle-tested leader, who can still produce offense 5-on-5 and remains a good penalty killer. And teams like a guy who has won a Stanley Cup. If the Bruins are willing to listen, there will be teams that will make offers. And of the Bruins who could be available, he might bring back the most. Given how many Boston players have full or partial no-trade protection, Don Sweeney’s trade options are limited.
The tradeoff is identity. Every player who has passed through the Bruins in recent years have lauded the culture in Boston. Players have been excited to join and come to the Bruins because of it. Marchand has been the tone-setter, taking the baton from Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara. And he’s the last guy left with a ring from 2011.
How much that really means is hard to quantify. The Rangers came unglued earlier this year when the front office messed with their identity. But Marchand has respect among his teammates and trust from the front office. They like that Matt Poitras, Justin Brazeau and Mason Lohrei are spending the early years of their NHL careers around Marchand.
Before the season, Don Sweeney and Cam Neely each made an extension to allow Marchand to complete his career as a Bruin sound like an eventuality. But they made those statements on the same afternoon when they called themselves legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. At that point, they weren’t even considering the possibility that they could miss the playoffs or be deadline sellers.
And maybe they won’t be. Bruins ownership doesn’t like missing the playoffs. In 2022, Charlie Jacobs said he didn’t think the fan base would accept the team selling.
“I think that would be awfully difficult to sell in this market to our fanbase,” he said. “We’re a cap team – meaning that we’re going to spend to the max to deliver the best product we possibly can to our fans and that is not going to change. In that regard, I would hope that people could put that in their back pocket and understand that we are committed to winning a Stanley Cup and we will do whatever it takes to get us to that threshold again.”
The first part of that quote suggests he doesn’t think selling would fly, but doing “whatever it takes” to get to a Stanley Cup threshold might require selling.
The rationale for trading Marchand is the same as the argument that the Celtics should have traded Kevin McHale in the early 1990s. Let go of an era that’s over in hopes of jumpstarting the next one.
The Bruins were unsentimental when Chara wanted to return one more time and all they got for letting him go was a roster spot. But they had Bergeron ready to assume leadership then. Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak — Marchand’s likely eventual successors are far less seasoned.
In reality, “should the Bruins trade Marchand?” shouldn’t be a yes or no question. It should be: Is the offer on the table big enough to make trading him worthwhile?
The Bruins didn’t get enough for Ray Bourque, Joe Thornton or Tyler Seguin. But none of those are apples-to-apples comparisons.
If Marchand wanted to leave — and he’s made no indication whatsoever that he does — that changes the equation and brings the Ray Bourque precedent into play. But Marchand has won a Stanley Cup, while Bourque was trying to get there before he retired. Both Thornton and Seguin were in their prime.
For obvious reasons, Marchand was hesitant to talk about that after Thursday’s loss.
“I have no control over that. So I’m gonna worry about what’s going on here and play for this group,” he said. “And as long as I’m here, I’m a Boston Bruin and that’s what I’m worried about.”
Giving away Marchand for mid-round picks or fringe prospects accomplishes nothing. Not trading him for a high pick or a good prospect that could be a cornerstone would be shortsighted. If they don’t trade him, reaching and announcing a contract extension would be smart too.
It’s going to be a critical few months for Don Sweeney. After his free agents flopped last year, he’s likely feeling pressure to do something to improve the Bruins. Marchand is one of the most popular players in franchise history. He’ll eventually be in the Hall of Fame with his number retired. Whatever Sweeney decides with Marchand, he can’t afford to get it wrong.
Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.
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