Brad Marchand denies extension report

9:48 p.m: Marchand himself has rejected Friedman's earlier report. In a brief conversation with Matt Vautour of Mass Live Sports, Marchand said: “I don't like talking about contract issues in the media. But this report from Elliotte is wrong. Elliotte is simply wrong. That's about it“.

8:46 p.m: Moments ago, Elliotte Friedman reported on Sportsnet's “Saturday Headlines” segment that the Boston Bruins are close to extending their captaincy Brad Marchand. Friedman indicated that the extension would be for three years, but did not disclose the amount of the contract salary.

After Marchand and the head coach, there is a clear change in mood in Boston Jim Montgomery passionately exchanged pleasantries during last week's overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club. A turnover by Marchand led to a game-winning goal by Utah (the goal was later overturned on review) and Mongtomery was visibly frustrated with Marchand's reaction.

Both Marchand and Montgomery downplayed the interaction, with the latter saying, “There didn't have to be a conversation between Marchy and me. He and I are both emotional people. I'm not happy about it, but I don't think about it afterward and neither does he. He is a professional. He is a great player who does so much good for us and he also has high expectations. That's the end for us“.

The frustration is understandable for a Bruins team that has struggled from the start. Boston has a 3-4-1 record in eight games but appears to be headed for a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.

It's hard to say Marchand wasn't part of the problem either. All the blame can't be placed on his shoulders, but his play on the defensive side of the puck continues to decline and he's only managed five assists this season.

It's understandable that a player entering the 37-year-old season would expect regression in his next contract. Still, the Bruins continued to rely on Marchand well into the back half of his career. Since his 2019-20 season at age 31, Marchand has scored 139 goals and 370 points in 348 games (excluding this year's results) for Boston while averaging just over 19 minutes of ice time per night.

His success in the playoffs is well known and could be one of the main factors in this extension. Marchand hasn't led Boston to the Stanley Cup Final since he was 31, but he was one of the most consistent postseason talents in franchise history, scoring 26 goals and 55 points in 49 games from 2020 to 2024.

Marchand's contract extension in Boston is expected to be the first of several for the team this season. The Bruins organization still has to work out new contracts for forwards Trent Frederick, Morgan GeekieAnd John Beecher until the start of the 2025/26 season, but signing their captain to an early extension puts the momentum in the right direction.