Not many people like rats. They're nasty, disease-infested vermin that can leave you uneasy, especially if you're eating delicious food. What happens if that digusting rodent gets ahold of your grub? Game over, man. It's time to find a new meal.
One particular rat has been a controversial figure for the Boston Bruins. His name is Brad Marchand and he might be leaving the team soon. Yes, they might be one point out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture (60). However, many other teams are fighting for that last playoff spot, ranging from the Detroit Red Wings (61) to the Columbus Blue Jackets (60). So what happens when you suddenly fall out of the race? You know what that means.
It's time to sell, baby.
Consider this, dear reader. Boston doesn't have much cap space to work with ($1,891,375 of current cap space, according to PuckPedia). They're looking to offload some payroll to re-imagine (or rebuild) the future roster, should they fall out of the race. The forward is in the last year of his current deal and carries a cap hit of $6.125 million. Considering there's a need for another winger in Sin City, it seems like a match made in heaven.
Brad Marchand's stats while he was coached by Bruce Cassidy are amazing. A point per game or higher every year and always a plus player.
— Jack Manning (@NHLJackManning) February 10, 2025
If Boston really falls out of it, Marchand's traded cap hit could be a little over $1.5M with double retention.#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/MSssSyMKip
$1.5 million with double retention? Sounds like a sweetheart deal! However, some things could make the 36-year-old as repulsive as the bubonic plague. You know what time it is, my dear friend. Let's weigh some benefits (and cons!) and see what a tenured player from an "Original Six" team can do.
The pros of getting Brad Marchand
As mentioned, a $1.5 million salary with double retention is doable by Kelly McCrimmon standards. He's well-versed in offsetting the cost to another team (see the Philadelphia Flyers in the Noah Hanifin trade), easing the financial burden for the Vegas Golden Knights. Currently, the team's cap space is $2,178,040 and is projected to jump to $3,474,493 by the deadline. That should provide ample room for the general manager to build depth at the wing.
Marchand also has a close relationship with Bruce Cassidy. Contrary to what prior reports say about the head coach, he's praised the forward's work ethic and growth as a player. Add a hint of being a solid 200-ft. player and you have an excellent fit in the system.
Just look at what's happening with Brandon Saad since he was signed. The left winger scored a goal and an assist since he joined the group, making him a valuable scoring option in the middle lines. The native of Halifax would follow Saad's footsteps easily, especially since he's great at scoring (20 goals, 24 assists) and on the power play (four goals, seven assists).
The cons of getting the tenured Boston Bruins star
Being a 5'9" winger limits you in what you can contribute to a team. You can't do much defensively with your size, even if your career-high in hits was 115 in 2023-24. Mix in the fact that said winger is 36 years old and it hampers their role further. Fans saw this with Jonathan Marchessault, which was why McCrimmon resisted the urge to hand him a five-year deal.
Such is the case with Marchand, who fits the description to a tee. Having him around as a long-term solution wouldn't do much to help the team aside from his confined role. Add in a dash of turnovers (60) and penalty minutes (60) and it makes matters more complicated. However, it would be funny to see him chase his opponents like this around the ice.
This also hinges on what happens with the Bruins in the playoff race. Considering the Eastern Conference is congested with contenders, the team could suddenly change course if they get hot. Therefore, no rat for you, Vegas!
So what would be the best solution to getting him if that doesn't happen? It would have to be a rental deal, where a couple of prospects or draft picks go the other way. Asking for a ridiculous haul to offset the cost would be too much for a general manager, especially if that player's not sticking around. Fans saw McCrimmon deal with this once. He certainly doesn't want to deal with it again.