Bruins Sign Brad Marchand

Brad Marchand has agreed to a contract with the Boston Bruins.

Although the organization did not publicly release the financial details, multiple reports around the NHL world list him as making $5.0m over the next 2 years. Marchand will earn $2.0m for the 2011-2012 season and $3.0m for the 2012-2013 season.

There is a huge significance of this deal being a two-year deal. The contract expires at the end of the 2012-2013 season when Marchand will be only 25 years old.

At 25 when this deal expires, Marchand will still be a restricted free agent. Teams are allowed to protect players who have not played in the league for lengthy periods from other teams in the league that want to sign them without compensation. The simplest way to define it would be to say that a player who hasn’t played in the league for a minimum of 7 years and also hasn’t reached the age of 27 is covered under the definition of a restricted free agent in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is looking like an absolute genius for his latest negotiations. By not budging on an extra year in the Marchand deal he maintains his rights. If Marchand were to have a couple of outstanding years, the Bruins would have the first shot at retaining him after this contract expires, or getting Phil Kessel like compensation if another team wants to put out an offer sheet that the Bruins decline. If Marchand’s number were to remain consistent with what was done at the end of last season and in the post season, then the money they are spending over the duration of the contract would be considered a steal for the talent they are getting in return.

The only true loss would be if Marchand’s numbers tank, which given the success so far in his style of play, isn’t likely.

"“I am very happy with the term,” Marchand told reporters Wednesday. “I think it was a perfect fit for both parties.”“Brad’s always told me that he wanted to be here,” Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said. “I had a feeling it would get done.”"

Marchand has been participating with teammates in the captain’s practices in the Boston area for the last few days to get ready for training camp, which opens Sept. 16. He has been talking the talk of a player with no doubts that a deal would be reached prior to the official start of camp.

Brad Marchand 2011 Playoff Highlights

In his first full NHL season, Marchand was fourth on the team with 21 goals, and his +/- of -25 rating was second among all NHL rookies. In the championship run of the 2011 postseason, his 11 goals were second-most on the team, and his 19 points were third.

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