Brad Marchand Addresses Rumor About Bruins Contract Extension

BOSTON — It seemed for a moment there was an answer to Brad Marchand’s uncertain future with the Boston Bruins.

Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman reported during the middle of Boston’s 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night that Marchand was close to agreeing to a three-year contract extension with the Bruins.

But Marchand, whose contract is up at the end of this season, flat out denied the rumor.

“Elliott likes talking about me this week,” Marchand said after he scored the game-winning goal in overtime. “I mentioned this before, I’m not big about talking about contract stuff in the media. I’m not going to do it. But that report from Elliott is false. I am not going to talk about my contract stuff with the media. If I was to sign a three-year extension, it would be signed. Elliott is just wrong there.”

Marchand has spent every one of his 16 seasons with the Bruins after the franchise selected him in the third round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

The Bruins captain isn’t at the height of his powers anymore at 36 years old, but can still be a productive top-six forward as he showed last season by tallying 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 seasons.

There’s no doubt the bumps and bruises associated with a long career took a toll on the undersized 5-foot-9, 176-pound winger. Marchand revealed prior to the start of the season that he underwent three surgeries this past offseason and he missed the start of the 2022-23 season after having a double hip arthroscopy and labral repair surgery.

Marchand got off to an uncharacteristic start this season as he plays in the final year of the eight-year contract he signed in 2016. His goal against the Maple Leafs was his first of the season.