Bruins general manager Don Sweeney spoke to the media today, making revealing comments about the future of captain Brad Marchand.
Yesterday, The Boston Bruins dropped their first game back from the Four Nations faceoff in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Brad Marchand was a part of Team Canada, helping his countrymen earn the trophy in what turned out to be a much more exciting tournament than anyone anticipated.
Marchand took the win as an opportunity to chirp the Tkachuk brothers, who criticized Team Canada earlier in the event.
Unfortunately for Brad though, this may be the last major win of the season for him as the Bruins are in trouble of missing the playoffs this year.
Even if the team does squeak in as a wild card team, they are clearly not a contender, and will likely be out in the first round.
Since Marchand is on an expiring contract, and isn't getting any younger, this does mean that the Bruins have to take the idea of trading him seriously.
Based on general manager Don Sweeney's comments during his media availability today, it does sound like the organization is doing exactly that.
He would not commit to a trade or a contract extension, leaving the door open for both possibilities.
'We've been in negotiations with Brad and communicating with him throughout the year. We'll have to have a conversation now that 4 Nations is over, and sit down with Brad and his representatives and have a clearer path in the next two weeks as to what his final outcome will be.'- Don Sweeney
Marchand has appeared in 1087 career regular-season games, all with the Boston Bruins.
He has 421 career goals and 974 points, is a four-time All-Star, and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2011.
If this is truly the end of his career with the Bruins, it will be a sad day for the franchise, and an indication of bigger things to come in the next few years.
