Bruins' Marchand shrugs off trade speculation: 'Just fans having fun'

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand knows his name has popped up in plenty of trade rumors, but he isn't worried about the speculation.

"That's just fans having fun with it all," he told DJ Bean and Pete Blackburn during an appearance on the "What Chaos!" podcast.

But Marchand conceded that he could understand why outsiders would suggest he could be a potential trade target.

He's playing out the final season of an eight-year, $49-million deal and can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Marchand signed that pact in 2016 when he had one year remaining on his previous deal, and it includes some protection in the form of an eight-team no-trade list.

The Bruins also entered the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off one point out of a wild-card spot. Boston president Cam Neely said in January that, though he had no appetite for a rebuild, he'd have to consider two paths ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.

"When things aren't going well with your group, or going the way that I think it was expected to go, that's what happens, right?" Marchand said. "These conversations start to come up more and more in the media, articles come out.

"All it takes is one article or one person making a comment on TV or the radio or a podcast and it kind of takes off from there. ... I try not to get caught up in it. You can't worry about things you can't control and that you don't have a part in."

The 36-year-old has recorded 20 goals and 44 points in 57 outings this season, his 16th in the league. Boston selected Marchand in the third round of the 2006 draft.

The Bruins have been competitive for most of Marchand's tenure, only missing the playoffs twice in 2015 and 2016. According to MoneyPuck, Boston currently has a 14.9% chance of making the postseason this spring, but Marchand seems to believe those unfavorable odds can build character.

"We've had years where we've missed the playoffs and we're fighting for our lives going down the stretch and in the playoff race like we are now, and those are some of the best years that you have because every game is meaningful," he explained. "It's like playoff hockey for a long stretch. A little adversity is good for a group."

Reports emerged in late October suggesting that Marchand and the Bruins were making progress on a three-year extension, but the veteran forward swiftly denied it before adding that he wouldn't discuss his contract talks with the media.

Marchand reaffirmed his desire to be a Bruin for life on Tuesday.

"That's always been my goal, is to play here forever," he said. "I love it here. ... It's all I know."

Marchand ranks fourth in franchise history in goals (421) and games played (1,086), as well as fifth in points (973).