According to reports, the Boston Bruins and Brad Marchand are still engaged in negotiations, but the door remains open for a possible trade.

© Bruce Bennett/Getty Images Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins arrives for the game against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on March 26, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida.

The Boston Bruins face critical hours regarding their future as the NHL trade deadline approaches. Captain Brad Marchand, sidelined with a week-to-week upper-body injury, has yet to sign a contract extension. While negotiations have been ongoing, recent reports suggest the two sides may part ways if the Bruins receive a suitable trade offer.

Marchand’s has been one of the biggest storylines in Beantown during the 2024-25 NHL season, as the uncertainty about his future took over. While the captain has stated time and again his desire to stay with the team that drafted him in the 2006 Draft, the Bruins may wave the white flag on their season, selling one of the most valuable assets in Boston.

Marchand has spent his entire NHL career with the Bruins and has no intention of joining a new organization at 36 years old. However, business is business, and the Bruins may have to make a tough decision about their veteran leader if it benefits the Original Six franchise.

With the March 7 trade deadline approaching as the league’s main focus, the Bruins and Marchand continue discussing a contract extension, but the possibility of a trade remains on the table.

Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins prepares to take the ice prior to playing the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 02, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

“While the Bruins continue to go back and forth with Brad Marchand on a possible contract extension, word is they’re still open to potentially trading their captain: Teams calling with interest aren’t being told “no” right now,” NHL insider Chris Johnston stated on his X account.

“It does feel like it’s moving toward a Marchand deal,” Johnston added. “There’s no confirmation he’s going to be traded. But the feeling, league-wide, is that he very much is likely to be moved by the Bruins at some point to the West.“

Key departures with possibly more to come

The Bruins are going through difficult times, struggling to stay afloat in the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It appears the front office has accepted their fate, prioritizing selling off key players while their value is high rather than keeping them in hopes of a playoff run.

Trent Frederic and Max Jones were shipped off to Edmonton in a trade that clearly signaled the Bruins’ selling approach at the deadline. However, if the team moves forward with trades involving Marchand or defenseman Brandon Carlo, it will be undeniable that the organization has conceded this season and is shifting its focus toward a rebuild for the future.

Brad Marchand #63 and Brandon Carlo #25 of the Boston Bruins during a game at TD Garden.

Crucial test

Amidst the trade rumors and drama, the Bruins have a pivotal game to play against the Carolina Hurricanes on the road. Boston has lost seven of its last eight games, and another loss before March 7 could help make up GM Don Sweeney’s mind.