Marchand discusses Bruins contract talks, defends Don Sweeney

“I’m grateful past phrases for all the things that that group has accomplished for me.”

Brad Marchand is now a member of the Florida Panthers. (AP Photograph/Lynne Sladky)

March 10, 2025 | 12:53 PM

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Brad Marchand — having shed his black-and-gold garb for crimson Panthers gear — spoke to the media on Monday for the primary time since getting dealt to Florida simply forward of Friday’s NHL commerce deadline.

Whereas a lot of the questions posted to the previous Bruins captain in Dawn revolved across the alternative in entrance of him this postseason and his skill to mesh in a dressing room stuffed with former antagonists like Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, Marchand additionally mirrored on his 16-year run with the Bruins — in addition to defend Boston’s administration after they made the decision to commerce Marchand.

Each Marchand and Bruins common supervisor Don Sweeney stated all the proper issues within the months and days main as much as Friday’s deadline by way of making Marchand — a pending free agent — a Bruin for all times.

However with each events unable to come back to phrases on a brand new contract and an underachieving Bruins roster slipping out of postseason competition, Boston finally made the decision to deal Marchand on the eleventh hour — sending him to the reigning Stanley Cup champions in trade for a conditional 2027 second-round decide.

Amid a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman of a “face-to-face assembly” between Marchand and the Bruins that “actually harm Marchand” when a brand new contract couldn’t be struck, Marchand defended Boston’s administration group on Monday.

“We clearly had been working to attempt to get an extension accomplished, and Sweens stated it the opposite day, there was a spot. … “We each felt that we had a place, and finally we didn’t get it accomplished,” Marchand stated. “However I do wish to sort of clear up, as a result of I’ve seen the previous few days, simply the narrative that’s been going round. I wish to sort of set the report straight, like I don’t have any ailing will in the direction of the administration group, in the direction of Sweens, Cam [Neely] or Charlie [Jacobs].

“I’ve had an unbelievable run in that group, and I’m extraordinarily proud simply how issues went there. So yeah, it was very disappointing that issues didn’t get accomplished, simply because clearly I really like the group. I needed to remain there. However on the finish of the day, I additionally know that enterprise is enterprise, and each participant has a shelf life, regardless if that’s after we need it to be or not.”

Whereas each the Bruins and Marchand needed to deal with each time period and payout together with his new contract, Friedman famous on Monday’s “32 Ideas” podcast that he didn’t consider Boston was providing up a pay minimize as a part of their negotiations.

“The opposite factor I do consider, on the finish, and no one has disputed this to me, I don’t consider the Bruins had been providing a pay minimize,” Friedman stated. “His present AAV is $6.125 [million]. I’m sure the provide was not under that. Now, how way more than that it was, I don’t know, however I’m sure the provide was not under that. Marchand was not being requested to take a pay minimize.

“Nevertheless, there was a spot. There was a large hole. No person on the market would affirm to me what the hole was, however I believe that the Bruins reached the road. It’s sort of the identical factor because the Lightning with [Steven] Stamkos. They reached a line they usually stated, ‘That is so far as we’re going to go.’”

It stays to be seen what kind of contract Marchand will command in free company this offseason, particularly if it’s much like the $6.125 million payout that’s at the moment on the books. A few of it would rely upon how the 36-year-old winger fares in the course of the postseason in Florida — with Marchand’s projected return from an upper-body damage nonetheless unsure.

However Marchand — who will journey with the Panthers as much as Boston for his or her sport on Tuesday evening at TD Backyard — burdened that his surprising change in surroundings is a byproduct of the enterprise aspect of the NHL.

“If we had been within the playoffs on the time limit, we’d most likely be having a a lot totally different dialog, and I do know that,” Marchand stated of Friday’s commerce. “It’s one thing we had talked about beforehand, however we weren’t — and at that time, very robust choices need to be made. And the one factor that I at all times respect, I instructed Cam and Sweens this — they’ve a job to do, they usually need to make one of the best choices for the workforce. And I utterly perceive the place the choices should be made.

“Yeah, typically they work in opposition to you, however that’s why I consider Sweens is certainly one of, if not one of the best, common managers within the league. I watched him for a really very long time excel at his job, and for individuals who are within the group and know the trouble that he places in every single day and the way exhausting he works — nobody would query the place his loyalty lies, and that’s to do what’s what’s finest for the workforce every single day. And while you’re a part of that group, you are feeling it typically.

“And like I stated, each man has their day and it’s clearly not what you wish to have occur. However I don’t maintain that in opposition to him or the group, it’s simply a part of life. It’s a part of the sport, but in addition he did create this chance for me to be right here. So I’m grateful past phrases for all the things that that group has accomplished for me.”