Bruins Notes: Sweeney, Marchand, DeBrusk

The Boston Bruins climbed back into their first-round series several times before ultimately falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games, and now face an offseason of uncertainty. Captain Patrice Bergeron is a pending unrestricted free agent, and though he has explained he wants to return, will turn 37 in July. David Pastrnak could also use a new contract, as he is only signed for one more year before potentially hitting the open market in 2023.

But before those situations are dealt with, it’s another key member of the organization that needs a new deal. General manager Don Sweeney does not yet have a contract for net season, and when asked today about the situation, he told reporters including Matt Porter of the Boston Globe that he expects the situation to be resolved “in short order.” Sweeney has been in charge of the team since 2015.

• Like every team after a long grueling season, there are also injuries to deal with. Brad Marchand has a hip issue that may require offseason surgery, according to Porter, though the final decision has not been made on a treatment path. The 34-year-old forward had another outstanding season for the Bruins this year, scoring 32 goals and 80 points, before being their most effective player in the postseason as well. While some of the other players on the Boston roster may still get more press (at least for their positive accomplishments), it’s Marchand that has been one of the most consistent forces in the entire league the last six seasons.
• It’s not just contract negotiations and injury timelines though, the Bruins are also still dealing with the Jake DeBrusk situation. The 25-year-old winger put in a trade request some time ago, and despite some late-season success after moving higher in the lineup, things don’t appear to have officially changed. DeBrusk told reporters earlier this week that he hadn’t really thought about it since the deadline, but Sweeney explained today that he doesn’t think anything has changed, “other than he’s happier.” Whether that means he’ll rescind the request and stick around is unclear at this point, but he already has a contract extension through 2023-24.