The Boston Bruins looked almost unbeatable during the 2022-23 regular season. The B’s roster was filled with stars, and their veteran players all performed at a top level. They became the winningest team in NHL history with 65, and no other team has ever had more points than this year’s Boston Bruins.
The Bruins were, of course, huge favorites to win the Cup this year, and not many predicted them to be eliminated in the first round to the 8-seeded Florida Panthers. And especially not when the Bruins had a 3-1 series lead.
But the Florida Panthers earned themself the nickname ”Comeback Cats” after they, led by Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk, turned the series around and eliminated the record-breaking Bruins.
Now, the Bruins have some massive work to do in the off-season. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci are both coming off one-year contracts. The Bruins have some tough work to get their stars resigned, and it’s not yet decided if Patrice Bergeron will continue playing.
Now, radio channel WEEI’s host Adam Jones suggests that the Bruins may have no choice but to trade Brad Marchand—if Patrice Bergeron goes on retirement.
Jones claims it’s needed if the Bruins want something in return and start some kind of a rebuild.
“If he [Bergeron] doesn’t come back, this Bruins team is not winning a Cup next year,” Jones said (H/T Hockeyfeed).
”You don’t have a number one center, and I promise you they don’t have the resources to go get another one and still have a great team around him. In that situation, if you’re not winning and Bergeron’s gone, I would sell high on Brad Marchand.
”Why? Because you need to start collecting draft collateral and prospects and anything that you can for the future of this team.
”I would be very open to trying to sell high on Brad Marchand and a couple other older, veteran players if you find out your number one center isn’t coming back and your team’s strapped for cash anyway.”
Marchand has been with the Boston Bruins since the 2010-11 and has since become one of the league’s best players and one of the most polarizing ones. If he were to sign for another team this summer, it would undoubtedly be one of the most controversial and talked-about trades in many years.
READ MORE: Wes McCauley accused of rigging the Stanley Cup Final; absolutely slammed for late-game decision
