What Don Sweeney said about Brad Marchand’s future, prospect call-ups & more
Don Sweeney touched on several topics Sunday, including Brad Marchand's future with the Bruins, prospects, and more.
Bruins
Don Sweeney and the Bruins are staring at a busy trade deadline. Barry Chin / The Boston Globe
By Conor Ryan
February 23, 2025 | 3:48 PM
4 minutes to read
Don Sweeney addressed several topics while speaking with reporters at Warrior Ice Arena on Sunday — be it the health of both Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy, Boston’s path moving forward this season, and the potential fate of several players on this roster ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.
Here are a few topics that Sweeney addressed as the Bruins begin taking a hard look at their roster in the coming weeks.
As Sweeney and the Bruins assess their options ahead of the trade deadline, the most impactful decision Boston has to make involves the fate of their captain, Brad Marchand.
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Marchand, a pending free agent, could be a coveted trade asset for several other contending teams this spring.
Even if Marchand is no longer the top-five winger he was a few years ago, he’s still on pace for 28 goals this season — while his two-way talent, knack for pestering opponents, and Stanley Cup pedigree would make him an ideal pickup for multiple teams before March 7.
But trading Marchand is not a decision the Bruins plan to take lightly, especially if Marchand intends on staying with Boston on a new contract.
Even if the Bruins could fetch a nice return for Marchand, Sweeney’s comments reflect a scenario where the team puts the ball in Marchand’s court to determine where he plays moving forward.
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“That’s always been my ultimate goal,” Sweeney said of making Marchand a Bruin for life. “We’ve been in negotiations with Brad and communicating with him throughout the year. We’ll have to have a conversation now the Four Nations is over, and sit down with Brad and his representatives and have a clearer path in the next two weeks as to what his final outcome will be.”
Marchand made his intentions clear earlier this month about his goals moving forward during an appearance on the “What Chaos!” podcast.
“Obviously, it would be very weird,” Marchand said of potentially getting dealt. “I think I would feel very weird, probably a little lost. But I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it before. And I don’t really think about it, because it’s not something that I really see happening.”
Marchand is far from the only pending free agent set to hit the open market this offseason, with Trent Frederic, Justin Brazeau, Parker Wotherspoon, and Morgan Geekie (restricted free agent) also set to receive new deals.
While Sweeney signaled that the Bruins are engaged in contract talks with Marchand, the team may not get to the finish line of any other contracts with players before the offseason commences.
“I think I have a pretty clear idea as to where most of those players sit,” Sweeney said. “We have a timeline for some that’s different from others, as it relates to UFAs and RFAs and we’ll address those as I just mentioned.
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“We’ll address the Brad one. So everybody’s a little bit in the same boat at this point in time, that it’s unlikely that we’ll move forward with things other than maybe Brad’s. But you never know, because obviously it takes one phone call and things change around.”
If the Bruins do opt to sell off assets between now and March 7, it could open the door for more players from Providence to get a look over the final weeks of the regular season.
Two players worth keeping tabs on are Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell — who currently stand as the top prospects in Boston’s system. Lysell, a 2021 first-round pick by Boston, has 29 points in 42 games with Providence, while Merkulov has 41 points in 45 games.
Another Providence player to monitor is 24-year-old center John Farinacci, who has seven goals and 30 points over 46 games this year.
Sweeney said that the Bruins could carve out spots for younger forwards in the weeks ahead, but signaled that they must continue to improve at the AHL ranks.
“Yeah, if they’re playing well,” Sweeney said of call-ups for Lysell and Merkulov. “They’re going through a good playoff positioning stretch down there, both those two players are contributing on a nightly basis and working through.
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“They both played up here. If their game merits it, they’re going to get a good opportunity to play.”
While the Bruins are currently outside of the playoff picture, Sweeney credited interim head coach Joe Sacco and his staff for pushing the team on Saturday against the Ducks — with Boston responding from a dreadful first period en route to a point via a 3-2 overtime loss.
Considering the limitations present on this Bruins roster due to injury and underperforming players, Sweeney noted that Sacco and his staff haven’t let this team become complacent amid dwindling playoff odds.
“The guys have an opportunity if they want to go out and prove that they’re playoff capable,” Sweeney said. “Obviously, with two D down, other guys have to step up and assume minutes they might not like to in a healthy environment. But it’s an opportunity.
“For other guys, that’s how I have to look at it. That’s how we have to present it to the guys, and the coaches are being realistic in their game plan and outlook … Joe wasn’t happy after the first period, and you saw an uptick in our play last night. So that’s an indication of a coach that is going to continue to push these guys to the level of what they’re capable of doing and go out and find the results.”
But when asked about any potential decision regarding Sacco’s interim label as head coach, Sweeney tabbed that as a “conversation for the offseason.”
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 — Pope Francis remained in critical condition Sunday and blood tests showed early kidney failure but he remains alert, responsive and attended Mass,Read More %23popefrancis)
 — Pope Francis remained in critical condition Sunday and blood tests showed early kidney failure but he remains alert, responsive and attended Mass,Read More %23popefrancis)
