Brad Marchand slams Elliotte Friedman's contract extension rumors as 'false'
Brad Marchand, the Boston Bruins captain, denied rumors about a new contract extension. The rumors started on Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines, where NHL insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned that Marchand and the Bruins were close to a three-year extension.
Friedman noted that Marchand’s strong performance motivated the Bruins to consider securing him long-term, with Bruins coach Jim Montgomery observing from the bench in Utah. While Friedman suggested an extension was likely, he also left room for potential changes in the situation.
"The team has been struggling, but he's had a strong week, completely diffusing any controversy about the exchange last week. With Jim Montgomery on the bench in Utah with an assist in a game the Bruins need to have tonight, the word is that the Bruins and Marchand are getting closer on an extension expected to be three years ..," Friedman said.
Marchand was quick to dismiss the report, addressing it after Saturday’s game. He firmly called Friedman’s statements “false,” putting an end to the rumors, at least for now.
"Elliotte's talkin' about me this week eh? I mentioned this before, I'm not big (on) talking about contract stuff in the media. I'm not gonna do it. That report from Elliotte is false ... if I was to sign a three-year extension, it’d be signed. Elliotte is ... it's just wrong, though," Marchand said.
In response, Friedman posted on X (formerly Twitter) about Marchand’s comments, sharing a post from MassLive Sports that covered Marchand’s denial. Friedman wrote:
“Equal time: Per @masslivesports, Brad Marchand said the following report was false. We will see how things play out.”
Brad Marchand is playing the final season of his eight-year, $49 million deal and will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Marchand has four assists in his first eight games, with a minus-4 rating. In 16 seasons with the Bruins, he has scored 401 goals and provided 532 assists, totaling 933 points in 1,037 games, making him one of Boston’s top players.
Brad Marchand's overtime goal lifts Bruins past Maple Leafs in 4-3 thriller
The Boston Bruins narrowly beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime at TD Garden, with Brad Marchand scoring the winning goal at 2:26. Marchand’s goal, his first of the season, was a rebound from a 2-on-1 play with David Pastrnak, who had intercepted a pass from Auston Matthews.
Matthews forced overtime for the Maple Leafs by redirecting a Mitch Marner pass with over a minute left in regulation. Boston's Jeremy Swayman made 20 saves, while Marner recorded three assists, and Anthony Stolarz stopped 30 shots for Toronto.
The Bruins snapped a three-game slump, while the Maple Leafs fell to 1-3-1 in their last five games.