Peeved Peter pronounces progress being made on deal with Marchand
Marchand/By S. Bradley
Brad Marchand scored 21 goals as a rookie in the regular season last year, and added 11 more in the run to the Stanley Cup championship.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that when he’s in a media environment, general manager Peter Chiarelli is going to be asked about the status of negotiations with Marchand’s agent.
Marchand is a restricted free agent.
During a conference call to announce the contract extension for Adam McQuaid today, Chiarelli seemed exhausted over having to answer a question about Marchand for the second time in four days.
“I’m just not going to comment every time I go to the media,” Chiarelli said. “There’s been discussions. We feel there’s been progress, and that’s where I’ll leave it.”
With the exception of Phil Kessel, the Bruins have never endured a holdout or forced-trade situation with a restricted free agent during Chiarelli’s reign, so right now there shouldn’t be too much worry that Marchand might take his trash talk, hand gestures and scoring touch elsewhere.
Every GM in every sport will at some times get a bit irritated at being asked the same question over and over. Perhaps Chiarelli might a bit more peeved about the Savard situation than the Marchand which came through during the conference call.
That situation has to be more stressful especially if PC hasn’t received any progress in the latest report.
Regardless of Peter being snappy withthe press (and who can blame him), it is still pivotal that marchand be resigned by the B’s. He not only had a great season, but had knack for creating just the right spark at the right moment for the team. This could not have been more obvious than his play in the playoffs showed. It is also hard to imagine the kind of chemistry he has with bergeron being found with another player. I would argue that Bergeron is such a great center he could easily make the right play with just about anyone, but that chemistry gave that line a completely different dimension.
He’s an RFA. If he was a UFA, concern might be warranted. But for an RFA to not be signed in mid-July is the furthest thing from a problem.
mr grumpy should expect brad questions as he locks up non FAs to long term deals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jUBbCgMWmE
We don’t really need status updates constantly when there is nothing of real significance to report, so I’m happy Chia is keeping it close to the chest, and working his magic, like with McQuaid.
No problems here either. Getting the same question 40 times a day warrants a snap back every now and then.
I have no issue if he doesnt want it to be public
Sorry to bother you Peter about the RFA 2nd line left wing that had a breakout season, was a big part of the Cup run and is a fan favorite. We’ll just wait to see if he walks in at the start of camp, how’s that.