Boston Bruins Trade Targets: Brad Marchand
May 1, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing
Brad Marchand(63) gets squeezed between Montreal Canadiens defenseman
Alexei Emelin(74) and defenseman
Francis Bouillon(55) during the third period in game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
One of the big names in recent trade talk has been our own instigator-in-chief, Brad Marchand. When it all boils down, there is a certain percentage of the fan base that wants to trade him. Why? Because he chirps a little too much, gets called for the occasional bad penalty, and has a record for embellishment. If that became the trade standard in the NHL, it would be physically impossible for the Montreal Canadiens to field four offensive lines (or three defensive pairs for that matter).
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Let’s take a quick look at Marchand’s numbers and see if his recent performance warrants him being traded away by Boston. Did Brad Marchand have a disappointing post season? Yes he did. He only had five points in twelve games (no goals). He led the team in penalty minutes in the playoffs with eighteen. Were the Bruins organization and the fan base hoping for a lot more out of him? Absolutely. To be fair, this is probably the lowest Marchand’s stock has been in the last couple of seasons. So, why would they trade away someone whose value is low as it has ever been. (That being said, it’s still higher than about seventy to seventy five percent of the rest of the league.)
His career positives certainly outweigh last season’s liabilities. He has put in at least twenty goals in every full season he’s played in (and eighteen in the abbreviated 2013 season). His worst plus minus is a +23 (also in 2013). He’s consistent on the ice (penalties aside), and is known to make great scoring opportunities for the Black and Gold. Marchand is outstanding on the penalty kill and he led the NHL in short handed goals. In the end, the Boston Bruins will not trade Brad Marchand. He’s totally in-sync with Patrice Bergeron and Reilly Smith. I can’t see them getting rid of a key part of a highly successful line for the Black and Gold. He’s very likely to have a twenty five to thirty goal season next year and he’ll have about the same in assists. It makes absolutely no sense to trade away that kind of commodity right now.