BOSTON — Before departing for the offseason, Brad Marchand said he hoped he and the Bruins would begin working on a contract extension.
The Bruins’ 36-year-old captain has one year left on the eight-year deal with an annual cap hit of $6,125,000 that he signed before the 2017-18 season.
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“Obviously, I can’t believe how quick it came. It’ll definitely be a conversation at some point,” Marchand said Sunday at the team’s final media availability of the season. “We’ll go from there. I’ve been here for my whole career and would love to continue that when the time comes.”
Boston general manager Don Sweeney was confident a deal would happen, but with free agency just over a month away, negotiating with a player, who already has a deal for 2024-25 wasn’t as urgent.
“Yeah, we’re going to get to Brad. He’s learning patience as a captain as well. So, he has to learn there’s some ducks in a row in terms of adding to our group and how he wants to add to that, and those guys that don’t have contracts up ahead,” Sweeney said Wednesday. “Eventually he’ll extend here. He’ll be a lifelong Bruin, that’s what we should do. But we’ll check that box.”
Sweeney has to navigate a long-term deal for goalie Jeremy Swayman, who is a restricted free agent. A trade involving Linus Ullmark is probably on the table as well. Sweeney has decisions to make on seven unrestricted free agents from his current roster as well. Sweeney and Boston are also expected to be active in pursuit of help, especially on offense, during free agency which opens on July 1.
Marchand had 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points in the regular season.
