9:48 PM: Marchand himself rejected Friedman’s earlier report. In a brief conversation with Matt Vautour of Mass Live Sports, Marchand said: “I don’t really like talking about contract matters in the media. But Elliotte’s report is false. Elliotte is simply wrong. That’s about it“.

8:46 PM: A few moments ago, Elliotte Friedman reported on Sportsnet’s “Saturday Headlines” segment that the Boston Bruins are about to renew their captaincy Brad Marchand. Friedman indicated the extension would be for a three-year term, but did not provide any insight into the deal’s salary.

It’s a definite change of mood in Boston after Marchand and head coach Jim Montgomery passionately exchanged pleasantries during last week’s loss to the Utah Hockey Club. A Marchand turnover led to a Utah tie (the goal was later overturned after review) and Mongtomery was visibly frustrated with Marchand’s response.

Both Marchand and Montgomery downplayed the interaction with the latter, saying: “There didn’t have to be any conversation between Marchy and me. He and I are both emotional people. I’m not ecstatic about it, but I don’t think about it afterwards and neither does he. He’s a professional. He is a great player who does so many good things for us, and he also has high expectations. So it’s over and done for us“.

The frustrations are understandable for a Bruins team struggling out of the gate. Boston has a record of 3-4-1 through eight games, but looks to be on its way to a win tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It’s hard to say that Marchand hasn’t been part of the problem, too. The entire blame can’t be placed on his shoulders, but his play on the defensive side of the puck continues to decline and he has only five assists this season.

There is an understandable expected decline for a player entering his age-37 season on his next contract. Still, the Bruins continued to rely on Marchand well into the second half of his career. Since his age-31 season in 2019-20, Marchand has scored 139 goals and 370 points for Boston in 348 games (excluding this year’s results) while averaging just over 19 minutes of ice time per night.

His performance in the playoffs is well known and it could be one of the main contributing factors. Marchand hasn’t taken Boston to the Stanley Cup Final since he was 31, but is one of the most consistent postseason talents in franchise history, scoring 26 goals and 55 points in 49 games from 2020 to 2024.

Marchand’s extension in Boston should be the first of several for the team this season. The Bruins organization still needs to make new deals for forwards Trent Frederik, Morgan GeekieAnd Johannes Beecher at the start of the 2025-2026 season, but signing their captain to an early extension puts the momentum in the right direction.