Brad Marchand Credits Hometown Discounts For Bruins’ Success
The Bruins are the hottest team in the NHL and it’s not really close. Boston has notched 81 points in 50 games and have a realistic shot at breaking the single-season regular season points record. How are the Bruins this good? Well, Brad Marchand gave an answer the makes a lot of sense.
It starts with star players taking less. Hometown discounts have helped Boston in more ways than one.
“Guys have tried to take less to win because we know that it bleeds through the lineup,” Marchand said Wednesday ahead of Boston’s matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, per Sportsnet.
“If you can have six guys that make lower salary (rather) than three, it’s a lot harder to play against. And that’s why we’ve been so good for so long.”
Patrice Bergeron returned for season 19 in 2022-23 and signed a one year deal worth $2.5 million. Add in David Krejci who returned to the team signing for $1 million this year. When your first and second line center are balling and are making a $3.5 AAV, it’s a hell of an advantage against the rest of the league.
David Pastrňák is also on a bargain deal earning $6.67 million AAV. The pasta man also needs a new contract. Was this quote a hint at Pasta to take a discount so the Bruins can continue to field a competitive team? Will Pasta really walk for bigger offers elsewhere? That right there is going to be a fascinating wrinkle to this Bruins team in the future.
Brad Marchand is severely underpaid too. Marchand, 34, carries a $6.125 million AAV and could certainly do way better on the open market. Marchand has been his same old self after starting the season late recovering from hip surgery. The Bruins top line left winger has 46 points in 42 games and is still pissing people off in the best way possible.
