Uncertainty Looms Over Brad Marchand's Future in Boston Ahead of 2025 Free Agency

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Gabriel Sami
October 24, 2024 (12:33)

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Brad Marchand emerges as one of the top NHL free agents available in 2025. The captain of the Boston Bruins' future uncertain.

Some people are beginning to consider what the upcoming offseason will hold now that the 2024-25 NHL season is well underway. Even though there is still a lot of hockey to watch before next summer, many teams will probably base their plans on which players are expected to depart and which ones will be on the market.

A list of the top 12 unrestricted free agents that will be available in 2025 was recently released by Sportsnet. Brad Marchand, the captain of the Boston Bruins, is one of them.

Nobody can predict what Marchand's NHL future holds. He will turn 37 at the end of the season. Jim Montgomery, his head coach, recently chastised the captain from the Bruins bench. Marchand also underwent three major surgeries over the past summer.

After the season, his eight-year, $6,125,000 AAV contract is scheduled to expire. He spoke candidly about his contractual status back in September, stating that he would not provide the media with any specifics:

«I want to say this now and leave it at that,» Marchand told reporters in September. «I'll never talk about contract stuff in the media. I saw a report the other day. I don't know where (the reporter) is getting his information, but it wasn't from our side. We're not going to talk about it. Whatever goes on will stay between (general manager Don Sweeney) and our group, and we'll leave it at that. I think there's enough respect between the two sides that we can deal with it.»

When Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said that Marchand would be a lifelong Bruin, he couldn't have been more explicit:

"We're going to get to Brad. He's learning patience as a captain as well," Sweeney said, prior to extending Swayman. "Eventually he'll extend here.

"He'll be a lifelong Bruin. That's what we should do. But we'll check that box."

It would make sense for the winger to push for term here rather than playing this season at a time, even though it is hard to imagine Marchand, like Patrice Bergeron, pulling a different jersey over his head.

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OCTOBRE 24 \| 95 ANSWERS Uncertainty Looms Over Brad Marchand's Future in Boston Ahead of 2025 Free Agency Do you think Brad Marchand will retire with the Boston Bruins?
Yes	78	82.1 %
No	17	17.9 %
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