Brad Marchand-Maple Leafs Blockbuster Trade Would Make Sense, Insiders Say

“I think he’d be a good fit anywhere, Lindsay. I think Brad Marchand, everything he represents—there isn’t a playoff team, a Cup-contending team in the league that couldn’t make sense of putting him in the lineup,” Hayes said. "He could play first line, second line—maybe this late in his career, depending on where he goes, he’s on the third line—but he will have an impact wherever he goes, just based on the nature of who he is. He’s a spark plug.”

A trade between the longtime rivals would be shocking, but with the Bruins are exploring Marchand’s market, Toronto could be making an effort to bring in the veteran forward to Canada.

TSN’s Chris Johnston, however, noted on Friday morning that while there is no confirmation of a deal yet, the expectation around the league is that Marchand will be moved, likely to the Western Conference.

“At this point in time, there’s no confirmation that [Marchand] is going to be traded, but the feeling league-wide is that he is likely to be moved by the Bruins at some point to the West,” Johnston said on TSN's "Insider Trading." 

Although he acknowledged Johnston's early report, Hayes urged the Leafs to make life difficult for Boston by pushing for a trade before the deadline.

“Until he gets traded, he’s still available," Hayes said. "As for whether the Leafs should make it uncomfortable for Boston—because, like you referenced, the reporting’s been out there that he may go West—yes, I would make it uncomfortable. 

"If I’m Brad Treliving, this is an ingredient that this Maple Leafs team simply does not have."

Marchand, 36, has spent his entire 16-year NHL career in Boston, amassing 976 points in 1,090 games. This season, the veteran has 47 points in 61 games and remains one of the NHL’s premier two-way forwards.