Shocking Trade Rumor: Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand named trade candidate

Here's one nobody saw coming. Boston Bruins' forward Brad Marchand has been named a potential trade candidate ahead of the trade deadline March 7. Marchand was recently named in a Fluto Shinzawa report by The Athletic.

“If they think it’ll help the team,” one hockey operations executive, granted anonymity to discuss a player not under his team’s control, said when asked if the Bruins will trade Marchand. “All bets are off."

Shinzawa continued to uncover both sides of the coin, as the report is sending shockwaves across the NHL. "Trading Marchand would not only cost the Bruins their captain and top-six wing’s on- and off-ice contributions. It would be general manager Don Sweeney’s white flag on 2024-25, certain to darken the dressing room. Sweeney would be revisiting former GM Harry Sinden’s decision to trade then-captain Ray Bourque to the Colorado Avalanche."

"But from another perspective, dealing Marchand has merit, both for the player and the franchise. Given the 36-year-old’s full-gas style, injury history and 1,079 games of wear and tear, it’s difficult to project when Marchand will hit the wall."

The Bruins enter the weekend's action with a 24-20-6 record, and sit third in the Atlantic Division, so it's a bit strange to see any reports that the team will be 'waiving a white flag' and moving their captain. With the parody in the Eastern Conference, and a log jam of teams chasing the Bruins, there's certainly a chance they miss the playoffs this season.

Should the Bruins trade Marchand? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images