Report: Bruins Lowballed Marchand—‘I Will Be Shocked’ If He Goes Back

According to a report, the Boston Bruins seemed to lowball their longtime soldier Brad Marchand for what he was looking for in an extension, leading to his exit.

The report indicated the B's offered their captain and team leader just two years at around $3 million per. Just as a refresher: Marchand just recently reached the 20-goal club for the 12th consecutive season—he's not slowing down that much even at 36 years old. He produced 10 points in 11 playoff games last spring.

But the Bruins were fine to move on from the face of the franchise for a conditional second-round pick. As former NHL coach & GM Doug MacLean said on Sportsnet radio when asked if he thought Marchand could just re-sign in Boston this summer as a UFA:

Not a chance. Not a chance. I will be shocked if that happens. And I hope Brad doesn't do it... He is not going back to Boston. Gimme a break.

"I don't think this bodes well for the Boston Bruins,” MacLean continued. “Sometimes as an organization you have to make a decision to show some loyalty... I just wish it could have ended better for Sweeney and Marchand. And I think he should have ended in Boston, for what he's brought to the table for the Bruins.. And it bothers me a little bit."

Needless to say, MacLean wasn’t the only observer perturbed by what the Bruins did with Marchand. Matt Vatour of MassLive had this to say:

"Is a conditional pick enough to potentially alienate a player who has been one of the faces of the franchise for over a decade?

"Is it worth losing a leader who the new wave of arriving younger players could benefit from being around?

"(GM Don) Sweeney’s answer might be a qualified yes to all of those, but he’d have a hard time convincing the fans of it."

Marchand finished his career in Boston with 976 points (422 goals, 554 assists) in 1,090 games after being taken in the third round (No. 71) of the 2006 NHL Draft. Marchand is fourth all-time in games played for Boston (1,090), fourth in goals (422), sixth in assists (554), fifth in points (976), second in game-winning goals (82) and first in short-handed goals (36).