Haggs: 'Really Good Signs' That Bruins Will Lock Up Marchand Long-Term
BOSTON (CBS) -- Brad Marchand is entering the final year of his contract, and the Bruins forward is poised for a big payday in the near future.
Marchand reportedly would like a seven-year deal with an annual salary of $7 million, and the good news is it appears he wants that contract from the Bruins. CSNNE's Joe Haggerty joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Thursday morning, and said there are a few good signs that the B's will be signing Marchand long-term very soon.
"Going back to when they started talking contract with him, and when the season ended, they fully expected that the contract would be 7-8 years and at least $6.5 million a year, probably more like $7 million a year," said Haggs. "He's too valuable to this team to let get away and let him get into free agency. What if he has another huge year like last year and his price goes up even more, and he has the hammer even more on his side leading up to unrestricted free agency.
"This is something they want to take care of and there are a couple of really good signs that it will get done. [Marchand] told me back in April he wants to finish his career with the Bruins. He loves it here and the reason he wants a seven or eight year contract is because he wants to be a Bruin for the rest of his career," noted Haggs. "Also, the whole thing about him and Bergeron calling David Backes to recruit him in free agency. They both called him multiple times and talked to him to try to come to Boston... The fact that Marchand went out of his way to call and recruit another player like that, that's a good sign he's not going anywhere. He wouldn't be doing that if he had his eyes towards next July 1 and going to the highest bidder.
"I think it's going to get done. The Bruins will have to pay through the nose to get him, but given that he plays in every situation, given he's Bergeron's partner in crime, he's a leader on the team and still in his 20s, he's the kind of guy you pay big money for," concluded Haggs. "He's been one of their leading scorers since he came into the league; you have to pay that guy."
Listen to the full discussion in the podcast below: