Did The Bruins Get Enough For Brad Marchand?

Did The Bruins Get Enough For Brad Marchand?

It turns out the answer to this question was a resounding yes. After failing to get a contract extension done, the Bruins decided to trade Brad Marchand to the Panthers to help Florida with their upcoming playoff run. In the aftermath of everything, does it feel fair to question if the Bruins got enough by sending Marchand to a division rival that knocked them out of the postseason two years in a row?

Before I begin, let me just shout out young Andrew quickly who did an awesome job with the NHL Trade Deadline tracker. If you want to read up on all the moves from the deadline, check out this link here! I will now be attempting to do a few follow ups from the deadline that should probably be talked about more in length.

The Bruins ended up getting a conditional 2027 second round pick in exchange for their captain. The pick becomes a 2027 or 2028 first round pick if Florida wins two rounds of the playoffs and Marchand plays in 50% of the playoff games.

On the surface, the trade isn’t terrible when you consider the fact that Marchand is hurt right now and may not even suit up for the Panthers during the regular season. NHL injury reports are always shaky but Marchand has been out of the lineup since March 1st and is expected to miss a few more weeks with an upper body injury. The injury part of this can’t be ignored and even if Marchand comes back, will he be healthy during the postseason run?

With that said, this is still Brad Marchand. The team that throws rats on the ice just got the biggest rat in the league and the Bruins happily gave him to their biggest rival for a conditional pick. The rivalry factor can’t be ignored. Why not trade Marchand West if you’re not even going to take a mega return back? Considering the history the Bruins have Panthers have, Don Sweeney really should have made Bill Zito sweat this one out more.

No intriguing prospect in return? Just a conditional pick that Don Sweeney will probably miss on just like he does with every other draft pick? Was that really worth giving up your captain for?

Bruins fans have a right to be upset here, especially when Brandon Carlo fetched a bigger return. Ultimately, this probably comes down to if Marchand re-signs with the Bruins in the offseason. If Marchand returns for the 2025-26 NHL Season, this is more understandable. If that doesn’t happen, fans in Boston have every right to feel betrayed by management.

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