Don't get me wrong, like everyone else I love Marchand but what was the rush to lock him up, especially when there could be an NHL Lockout so who knows what will happen this season? Additionally, forward Milan Lucic, goaltender Tuukka Rask and center Tyler Seguin all become restricted free agents next July 1 while forward Nathan Horton and defenseman Andrew Ference are unrestricted free agents.
Only 24, Marchand will earn $3 million this season, the second year of a two-year contract he signed last September during training camp. He would have been a restricted free agent if he hadn't agreed to this deal. This makes him the third highest paid Bruins forward behind centers David Krejci ($5.25 million) and Patrice Bergeron ($4.55 million).
Boston also has $5 million tied in to center Marc Savard, who will likely never play again due to multiple concussions not to mention wacky goaltender Tim Thomas, set to steal $5 million from the Black and Gold while he gathers supplies in his bunker for the Apocalypse.
Marchand improved on his regular season totals from his rookie year, last season he scored 28 goals and dished out 27 assists. He was an impressive +31 and had 87 penalty minutes in 76 games. The main difference and what most people will remember is that along with most of his teammates, he did virtually nothing in the first-round playoff series against the Capitals. Washington upset Boston in seven games and Marchand being invisible (1 goal, 1 assist both in Game 5, that's it) was one of the main reasons they were bounced way too early.
Still, he proved he's a clutch player by scoring 11 goals and eight assists as a rookie during the Stanley Cup run in 2011. He'll probably never be a first line forward in Boston but you can't argue that he doesn't get the most out of his abilities. He's a fan favorite since he always plays on the edge and throws his body around against mostly bigger opponents.
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