With just six games to go before the trade deadline and the team just on the outside of a playoff spot, it is stuff-upper-lip time for those who don a Bruins jersey.
Hampus Lindholm (knee) is most likely done for the season and there is no timeline on Charlie McAvoy. All those things considered, it was no surprise that on Sunday GM Don Sweeney communicated that all things are on the table when it comes to the March 7 trade deadline.
Those most vulnerable to be moved are the pending unrestricted free agents, though veterans with term are also in play. With the exception of captain Brad Marchand, Sweeney didn’t hold out much hope that he’d be coming to terms with Trent Frederic, Justin Brazeau and the rest of the UFAs. And until a deal is done, even Marchand is no sure thing to return.
On Monday, the captain reiterated his desire to remain a Bruin.
“I’ve always planned on playing here my entire career. That hasn’t changed,” said Marchand. “They’re aware of that. Everyone’s aware of that. It’s a gift to be playing for this team and I take a tremendous amount of pride in it. So, yeah, it’s always been a goal.”
While not getting into detail, Marchand sounded somewhat hopeful for an extension.
“We’re obviously in talks and I feel I understand where I’m at personally, but again that’s going to stay between us,” said Marchand.
Marchand, the longest tenured Bruin and last remaining link to the 2011 Stanley Cup champions, also sounded as if he was very much up for the fight that this team has on its hands to get into the post-season.
“I think the team has a real good understanding of what the team is and what they’re going to do. We’re very close to being in a playoff spot,” said Marchand. “A lot of teams have caught up in the standings behind us and we’re right there. We have the ability to win and put ourselves in a good spot and playoff position. It’s going to be a fight to the end. But if we string some wins together, we’re going to be in a fight for our lives down the stretch. We’re right there. We just have to make every game for the rest of the year meaningful. And sometimes that’s a lot of fun. It’s great to have that intensity and mindset for every game going into it. We haven’t always had that. A lot of years, it’s been ‘don’t get hurt’ or we’re looking at who we’re going to be playing in playoffs. That makes every game entertaining. It’s just a different mindset.”
The Bruins are the only organization that Frederic knows, having been drafted in the first round by the B’s in 2016. He could well be on the move. A disappointing season (8-7-15 in 56 games) has not helped produce an extensions.
Frederic, who said he’d like to remain a Bruin, was asked if it sunk in that he could be playing his last games here.
“I haven’t really thought like that. Obviously I’m aware of the situation, just everything with being a UFA and not having a deal. I’m not oblivious to that. But I don’t think like that and I’m not going to. If something happens, I’ll react off that,” said Frederic.
“I look back at it and think ‘I wish I had a better year or wish I’d score more goals here and there.’ But at the end of the day, I’m just going to play hockey and have fun. That other stuff will take care of itself. I don’t worry too much about that. But I think everyone at this time of year is a little more aware of situations.”
Morgan Geekie is in a different category. He’s a restricted free agent, so Sweeney does not necessarily have to act before the trade deadline on Geekie. If worse comes to worse, the two sides could hammer out a deal at arbitration. Geekie knows how tough a business this can be. Two years ago, the Seattle Kraken chose not to qualify him, making him a free agent and dropping him in the Bruins’ lap. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship. Geekie set a career high in goals with his 18th on Saturday and, on Monday, he got bumped up to the first power-play unit.
“Everything about this place is everything I’ve dreamed of and more with the guys in this room, the memories I’ve created and the friendships,” said Geekie. “Me, my wife and daughter, we love the city, too. I’d love to be a Bruin as long as I can. But at the end of the day, it’s a business and at the end of the day they’re going to make business decisions and that’s above my pay grade. I’m just going to go out there and do my job and have fun while I do it.”
If this is a retool and not a rebuild, the 26-year-old Geekie is the type of player a team should hang on to. On the other hand, he might be their best trade chip.
The versatile forward was not upset that they B’s have not taken care of him yet.
“They’ve got decisions to make. I don’t think I’m more important than anyone else. I’m just trying to do my job and not get too tied up in that,” said Geekie. “Obviously lots of people are trying to figure out what’s going to happen. That’s the nature of the game here. It’s something that happens every year and unfortunately this year the Bruins seem to be at the focal point of everybody. We just try to keep it in this room, stay positive and try to block out the noise.”
That noise will get louder with each day until March 7.