Brad Marchand is a polarizing figure – at least, he is if he’s playing against your favorite team. But if he’s playing for your favorite team – be it the Boston Bruins or, at the current 4 Nations Face-Off event, Team Canada – Marchand is an inspiring hero figure. And at the 4 Nations Face-Off, he’s managed to be an impact player despite hardly playing at all.

To wit: in three games for Canada, Marchand has scored a goal despite playing an average of only 11:19 per game. But it’s the message he’s delivering by playing his typically robust physical game that’s having a major impact. Marchand’s Canadian teammates can’t get away with not following Marchand’s on-ice example, and that’s one of the reasons why Team Canada has been able to make it to the tournament’s final game Thursday night against the United States.

What’s also apparent is that Marchand’s strong play is driving up his asking price when he becomes a UFA at the end of this season. Despite being 36 years old with a ton of games on his competitive odometer, it’s difficult to see Marchand playing for less than his current salary of $6.125-million next season. This is not going to be an instance in which Marchand takes a major hometown discount the way Bruins veterans Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci did when they did monetary favors for Boston. He deserves at least as much as he's making right now, if not more.

The Bruins are going to have a tight salary cap situation next season, as they currently have approximately $71.31-million in cap space committed. Given that the NHL has announced the cap ceiling will rise to $95.5 million next year, that gives Boston GM Don Sweeney $24.18 million in cap space. And that will be more than enough to bring back Marchand and retain the team’s RFAs.

Marchand isn’t likely to break the bank in contract negotiations, but as the current captain of the team and the person who sets the tone for his teammates, he deserves to be compensated appropriately. From our perspective, Marchand's role as a leader and a full handful for opponents dictates that he needs to be offered a decent raise on a two-or-three-year contract extension. 

The Hockey News - NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Bruins' Brad Marchand And Penguins' Erik Karlsson Media trade chatter continued last week about Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand, while Erik Karlsson's 4 Nations performance also generated speculation.

Marchand can get that while not upsetting Boston’s apple cart in terms of the financial pecking order for his Bruins teammates. He’s a difference-maker and a message-sender, and as he’s proving at the 4 Nations Face-Off, his skill set is not easily matched or replaced. His time-on-ice average down the line doesn’t have to be as great as it was in his younger years, but even in a more limited role, Marchand can still be effective.

Ask Marchand’s opponents whether he’s lost a step. They’ll heartily disagree with that notion. When he’s on the ice, all the other players know he’s there. And that competitive footprint deserves to be rewarded with a contract that ensures Marchand stays in Boston for the remainder of his NHL career.

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