How experts graded Boston Bruins Brad Marchand trade

Don Sweeney’s explanation was simple. The Bruins and Brad Marchand were still far apart on the length of the contract each side wanted for the Boston captain as he approached free agency.

Sweeney didn’t think they could bridge that gap and didn’t want to risk losing Marchand for nothing when he became a free agent in the summer. So the Bruins general manager sought the best deal he could find and dealt him to the Panthers for a second-round pick that becomes a first-round pick if Marchand is healthy enough in the playoffs.

Did Sweeney get enough for Marchand, who is expected to miss at least three more weeks? The national media experts didn’t think so:

ESPN

“Everything Marchand achieved in Boston created the idea that moving on from him could lead to the Bruins receiving a significant return.

Yet they were able to get only a conditional second-round pick that could become a first-round pick. The conditions of the trade are that if Marchand plays in more than 25% of the Panthers' games over the first two rounds, the pick then becomes a 2028 first-rounder.

And that’s it. No other draft picks. No prospects. Just a conditional second-round pick that could become a first-round pick if Marchand plays in more than a quarter of the Panthers' playoff games through the first two rounds." Grade: C+

The Athletic

Dom Luszczyszyn: "This is a no-brainer for Florida and a serious head-scratcher for Boston. If you’re going to trade your captain to a bitter rival at least make them pay a little bit. At least get a guaranteed first. This return is so pitiful that you wonder why the Bruins would even agree to it in the first place. Given the importance of Marchand to the franchise, the Bruins owed it to their fans to net an actual return. This? It’s a slap in the face.

For the Bruins, it’s a sad day trading away a heart and soul captain. And they made it even sadder by getting very little in return in what was a massive seller’s market. The key to a trade that pisses everyone off? Don’t piss off your own fans too." Grade: D.

Sean Gentille: “On the Bruins’ end of things, they sent a franchise icon to a divisional rival (and potential playoff opponent) and couldn’t net so much as a no-strings-attached first-round pick in return. If the fan base’s social media temperature is any kind of barometer, Don Sweeney made himself a bunch of enemies today — and for what? If Florida doesn’t advance to the conference final, a late second-rounder. The Panthers, meanwhile, can thank Sweeney for their missing piece, and the rest of us can thank him for a memorable afternoon." Grade: F

Bleacher Report

“The Bruins have signaled they are starting to rebuild. It was rumored they set a high price for Marchand. Ultimately, they settled for a 2027 second-round pick, which could turn into a 2028 first-rounder. They also retained half of Marchand’s $6.13 million cap hit. That’s not much of a return for someone of Marchand’s stature." Grade: D