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How Bruins' Refusal to Meet Brad Marchand's Contract Demands Led to Breakup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Mar 11, 2025 12:17 PM ET

Just a few days after Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney revealed his view of the trade that sent longtime captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, and hours after Marchand's introduction in Florida, new information keeps emerging about what led to the breakup.

During Tuesday's episode of the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, NHL analyst Paul Bissonnette revealed that Brad Marchand wanted a three-year, $7.5 million per year extension with the Bruins before being traded, but Boston refused to increase their offer.

Bissonnette explained that the Bruins met with their former captain and offered Marchand exactly what he was making—$6.63 million per year over three seasons—instead of his requested figure.

“Marchand’s camp wanted $7.5 million,” Bissonnette said. “Marchand had a meeting with Don Sweeney, and he went in, and he said, ‘I love it here. I’ve been a Bruin my entire career. I’m willing to meet you guys in the middle,’ and they wouldn’t come up with their offer.”

Former NHL player and co-hostRyan Whitney replied, “Once I heard the rumblings of what happened, I knew there was no chance he’d come back in July. No, Brad Marchand is no longer a Bruin.

”To Bruins fans—it’s over.”

Brad Marchand wanted $7.5 million a year

The Bruins offered $6.3 million & wouldn’t meet him halfway, per @BizNasty2point0 pic.twitter.com/9OhYTFQs5O
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 11, 2025

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday that Marchand was willing to compromise to stay, but the Bruins were unwilling to adjust their offer, something that we now know to be true.

General manager Don Sweeney, meanwhile, called the decision to trade Marchand a “really, really difficult” one, citing the contract gap revealed by Bissonnette and the team’s long-term plan.

WATCH: Brad Marchand chokes up recalling his 16 years in Boston and getting traded

"I'm extremely proud of how things went there"

"it was very disappointing things didn't get done. I love the organization and wanted to stay there but I know business is business" #Bruins… pic.twitter.com/VxK5fm3Cpl
— Yianni Kourakis (@WPBF_Yianni) March 10, 2025

Marchand, emotional in his Panthers introduction, admitted he was disappointed but understood the business side.

“It was very disappointing that things didn’t get done just because, obviously, I love the organization, I wanted to stay there,” Marchand said.

Now in Florida, Marchand awaits his Panthers debut due to an upper-body injury with his current and former teams going against each other in a Boston-Florida matchup scheduled for Tuesday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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