The Bruins kicked off trade deadline week by dealing Trent Frederic and Max Jones to Edmonton and with less than 19 hours to go before the NHL trade deadline there are rumors that Captain Brad Marchand could be on the move as well. Chris Johnston and TSN reporting that while there’s been no confirmation, it’s likely that Marchand will be dealt and dealt to a team in the Western Conference. It’s definitely a seller’s market but it’s an absolutely disgusting thought to think that a Captain, a player who has given his heart and soul to his team, Stanley Cup Champion, who played his entire career here in Boston could be pushed out the door and for what? No return would feel justified in my eyes unless it starts at a 1st round pick, a roster player AND a prospect. 

Now, if I take the emotion out of it and the fact that I would personally never let Don Sweeney have a moment of peace in his life ever again if he does go through with this, I do get the thought. He’s pushing 37, you think of the wear and tear on his body that he’s had (he did have 3 offseason surgeries last summer), especially for a player that plays all situations…, he’s a UFA and you can’t let him leave for nothing since contract talks haven’t yielded anything… but man, he’s still managed 21G, 26A for 47P on a team that has been god awful. The work ethic starts and ends with him. He sets the standard. He’s been here since 2009 and the culture of the team could go with him if he leaves. I think all of these things matter. An underwhelming return would put a blemish on the organization on how they treat their players.

Like I said, if they do in fact deal him, I need it to be a haul worthy of moving on from him. It needs to set the B’s up for future success (and even then do we really want Don Sweeney to be the one making future draft choices!?). This does not need to be a rebuild, it needs to be a re-tool. They have the pieces in Pastrnak, McAvoy and Swayman and they need to be better at building around those guys and getting them help. No one (except Pasta) has played to expectations this season… and Marchand getting traded may be the result of that.

Oh yeah, he also wants to stay. But again, who knows where contract talks fell apart. Do I think they should give him upwards of 8M even with the cap going up? Probably not. Is Don Sweeney dealing for his job? Probably, and he most likely has to be ruthless in that. But as we get closer and closer to the deadline and the more realistic the idea that Marchand gets dealt it just feels gross to me!!!

I also don’t buy the theory that he would simply just return in free agency if dealt. There’s a lot of whirlwind and emotions in that and it would certainly leave a bad taste in my mouth, if I were him. However the NHL is a business, and if Jake Walman is netting a 1st round pick, the haul for Marchand could set the Bruins up nicely. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to like it!!!!! 

So, potential trade partners? A reunion with Nova Scotia’s Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado? Bruce Cassidy and Vegas? Minnesota? Oh my god, imagine a world where Brad Marchand is a Vancouver Canuck? Whoever does deal for him won’t get his services likely until the playoffs as he’s week-to-week with an upper body injury.

At the end of the day, the Bruins did not get the results they needed this year and changes have to be made. Ideally, those changes are with the front office (cough Sweeney and Neely) and not dealing a fan favorite. But crazier things have happened, let’s just hope if there are changes that it’s ultimately worth it. Players who could be dealt tomorrow: Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Morgan Geekie, Justin Brazeau and even Charlie Coyle. The Bruins are 3 points out of the Wild Card with a slew of teams in front of them. It ain’t over until it’s over but they’ll be selling come 3pm tomorrow…