Brad Marchand dismissed trade speculation during his appearance on the “What Chaos!” podcast, addressing rumors as the Boston Bruins approach the March 7 trade deadline.
“That’s just fans having fun with it all,” Marchand told DJ Bean and Pete Blackburn.
“When things aren’t going well with your group, or going the way that I think it was expected to go, that’s what happens, right? These conversations start to come up more and more in the media, articles come out.”
The Bruins captain is in the final season of his eight-year, $49-million contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. His current deal includes an eight-team no-trade list.
Boston sits one point outside a wild-card position entering the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Cam Neely, Bruins president, indicated in January he’d consider multiple options at the trade deadline, though he expressed no interest in rebuilding.
Marchand has recorded 20 goals and 44 points through 57 games this season.
The 36-year-old forward ranks fourth in franchise history with 421 goals and 1,086 games played. He’s fifth all-time in points with 973.
Despite MoneyPuck projecting Boston’s playoff chances at 14.9%, Marchand sees value in the team’s current position.
“We’ve had years where we’ve missed the playoffs and we’re fighting for our lives going down the stretch and in the playoff race like we are now, and those are some of the best years that you have because every game is meaningful. It’s like playoff hockey for a long stretch. A little adversity is good for a group.”
Reports of progress on a three-year extension surfaced in October, but Marchand quickly denied them, stating he wouldn’t discuss contract negotiations publicly.
“That’s always been my goal, is to play here forever,” he said. “I love it here. … It’s all I know.”
