NHL insider reveals next team in line to acquire Brad Marchand
Photo credit: NHL.COM
Former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand recently stunned many by accepting a trade to the Florida Panthers at the NHL trade deadline, but it appears he is heading to a new team according to a recent report from an NHL insider
Brad Marchand recently made his debut with Florida following a stunning trade by Bruins GM Don Sweeney, and it proved that his health is in stable condition, but stability within the Panthers organization isn't there, as the 36-year old is set to become an NHL unrestricted free agent this summer.
NHL insider Adam Proteau of The Hockey News wrote a column recently, revealing speculation that the hard-nosed forward may be taking his services to a new organization this off-season, and no, this is no April fools joke.
The longtime reporter revealed teams who would be interested in having Marchand in their lineup, and the favorites emerging after the Boston Bruins is quite shocking.
Boston Bruins emerge as favorites to re-acquire Brad Marchand
According to Proteau, the Boston Bruins are in the running to re-acquire Marchand, his explanation:
He'll be 37 years old by the time he signs a new contract, so his next deal could be his last NHL deal. But if Boston can get the money right - somewhere in the area of his current annual salary of $6.125 million - it wouldn't be out of the question to see him return to the Bruins.
Marchand served Boston well as their leader on the ice and off of it, and although he probably would've wanted to spend his entire career with the same team, he could, in theory, win a Stanley Cup with the Panthers, then find a way to come back to his first NHL home.
Marchand served Boston well as their leader on the ice and off of it, and although he probably would've wanted to spend his entire career with the same team, he could, in theory, win a Stanley Cup with the Panthers, then find a way to come back to his first NHL home.
Another team listed for Marchand's next destination is a longtime rival of him and the Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs? It would be unexpected, but so was his arrival in the Panthers organization, here's Proteau's take:
Let's assume the Maple Leafs falter early in the playoffs once again this spring. In the wake of that disappointment, there will likely be a massive change in Toronto - and what better way to effect significant culture change than to sign a proven winner and Leafs-haunter in Marchand?
He'd have to acclimate to playing in the huge hockey fishbowl that is Toronto, but it's not as if Marchand isn't used to that in Boston. The Leafs would be motivated buyers for him, and he'd fill an obvious need for grit and spunk.
He'd have to acclimate to playing in the huge hockey fishbowl that is Toronto, but it's not as if Marchand isn't used to that in Boston. The Leafs would be motivated buyers for him, and he'd fill an obvious need for grit and spunk.
Other teams interested in acquiring the veterans services are the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
All destinations named are primed locations for Marchand to win another Stanley Cup, especially the Boston Bruins if general manager Don Sweeney can properly complete his teams' re-tooling process this off-season.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 1 | 891 ANSWERS NHL insider reveals next team in line to acquire Brad Marchand Do you think Brad Marchand will return to the Boston Bruins organization this off-season? | ||
| Yes | 320 | 35.9 % |
| No | 571 | 64.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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