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Boston Bruins: Sign Brad Marchand Soon

By Andrew Thompson

Mar 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) chases the puck during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Kings won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) chases the puck during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Kings won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016-17 season will be a make or break year for the Boston Bruins.

The Boston Bruins have had some identity issues over the last two seasons. The team used to be known for it’s extremely physical brand of hockey. The Bruins embraced a three-zone, two-way, defensive-minded system under Coach Claude Julien and it led them to two Stanley Cup finals and a Cup win in 2011.

Now, the team is finding itself having no choice but to move in a new direction. Without a solid defensive core, the Bruins chose to ramp off the offense last season and ended up fifth in the league in overall scoring.

Brad Marchand was a big part of the Bruins success last season. Marchand had a record year for the Black and Gold, leading the team in goals with 37. Marchand was one of those players that brought intensity to his game every night, and has done nothing but improve his game every year.

He’s one of the top-three players in Boston. He’s solid on offense. Fearless on defense. Marchand is outstanding on special teams, and his game reaches a totally different level when he’s on the ice with Patrice Bergeron.

The 28-year old winger will be a free agent at the end of next season. Marchand would be one of the hottest commodities on the free agent market if he’s not locked up in the next few months.  The last thing the Bruins need is to over-pay for a mediocre top-four defenseman during the season, only to not have the funds available to keep Marchand in the spoked ‘B’.

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Signing Marchand is just common-sense. While Don Sweeney has made it a priority to keep Marchand, he also made it a priority to sign Jimmy Vesey and find a top-four defenseman in the offseason. The last thing the Bruins organization needs right now is have another solid player for the team walk because the front office can’t manage their numbers.

Marchand grew up a lot last year.  While the swagger was still there, the number of stupid penalties were down. He even briefly wore an ‘A’ on his jersey last season. As long as he stays in Boston, he’ll get to keep that ‘A’ (especially when Bergeron inherits the captaincy).

If the Bruins wish to get back on the playoff track next season, signing Marchand should be Boston’s top priority.

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