The core that the Bruins had for more than a decade is turning over right in front of our eyes. Zdeno Chara is gone. David Krejci is gone, possibly never to return. Tuukka Rask may be gone depending on how his rehab from hip surgery goes.
Patrice Bergeron is 36 and in the final year of his contract. He has made it clear he’s taking things year-to-year at this point, saying he doesn’t plan to sign an extension in-season.
Brad Marchand is the youngest member of that core at 33, but even 33 is starting to get up there in NHL years (well, normal NHL years -- maybe not Chara years).
The star left wing is still at the top of his game, though, as evidenced by his career highs in goals per game and points per game last season. Still, it’s fair to wonder if he’s at least thought about how much longer he might want to play.
Marchand was asked that after Thursday’s first training camp practice, and responded with his trademark humor while saying he hopefully has many years left.
“Until they boot me out of the league. Which, with my history, could be tomorrow,” Marchand said, referencing the numerous suspensions and fines of his earlier years.
“I think that’s one thing that, you talk to a lot of the older guys that have retired and moved on, the feedback is to play as long as you can. Once you’re done, it’s not coming back. That’s kind of how I intend to look at it. Maybe that transition is I go from first to second to third to fourth line again. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be a defenseman at some point. But yeah, hopefully it’s a long time.”
Marchand, who is now entering his 13th season, has four years left on his contract, which will take him through his age 36 season.
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