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Bruins' Marchand not worried about contract status, gets advice from Stamkos

Bruins' Marchand not worried about contract status, gets advice from Stamkos

If Steven Stamkos could offer Brad Marchand one piece of advice as the Bruins winger heads into the final year of his contract, it’d be to get an extension done sooner rather than later.

Stamkos, the Tampa Bay Lightning captain, played the entire 2015-16 season without a new deal, and even went into the window to meet with other teams ahead of free agency before eventually signing an eight-year $68-million extension with the Bolts.

“If you could go back and do it all over again, maybe try to get it done sooner rather than later just because of the burden, distraction it puts on you,” said Stamkos during media day at the World Cup of Hockey. “But I think when you're at this level, it's a little easier to understand and leave that stuff at home, come to the rink and play.

“It's no different whether you have a contract or not. It's the same game, it's the same group of guys you're going to be around and you've got to go out and perform the same way you did.”

Brad Marchand said he's taking a laid-back approach to contract talks with the Bruins. (Getty)
Brad Marchand said he's taking a laid-back approach to contract talks with the Bruins. (Getty)

Despite the distraction of his five-year $37.5 million contract expiring, Stamkos still managed to register 64 points in 77 games – and his 36 goals were good for eighth-most in the league.

“For me, it was easier as the season went on to leave that stuff at home, but I'd be lying if I said you didn't think about it here or there,” Stamkos said. “It did keep you up some nights, but that's life. There's going to be things all the time that you're going to have to worry about, that you're going to have to park when you get to the rink. If anything, it made me realize that I can get through that situation and still find a way to be a professional hockey player.”

Marchand is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, his eighth year in the league. The native of Halifax said his laid-back attitude has helped him keep his mind off the impending free agency.

“I think the big thing is taking it one step at a time,” Marchand said. “Right now, it doesn't help me or anyone to be focused on that right now.

“I'm a pretty simple guy. I take things day by day, I don't stress over a whole lot and it can be (exciting) at times and it can't be at times. It all depends on the situation and where you're at.”

The 28-year-old is coming off his most productive NHL season. In 77 games last year, Marchand scored a career-high 37 goals and 61 points. His 37 goals were second to only Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars amongst Canadian-born players.

Marchand is heading into the final year of a four-year $18-million contract, which carries a cap hit of $4.5 million. The 5-foot-9, 191-pounder said he has been prepared by his agency for the possibility becoming unrestricted in July 2017.

“We talked about it a little bit,” he said. “We didn't talk about it a ton just because we're still a ways away from it. We'll talk about it more when we're closer to that.  Until that time, I'm fully committed to being in Boston. We have such huge year ahead of us.”

With nearly a month before the regular season gets going, Marchand is confident the two sides could still reach an agreement, but he’s also not opposed to negotiating once the season gets going.

“I'm comfortable with where I'm at and where (negotiations) are at,” said Marchand. “If it gets to that point, yeah, I'm comfortable and we'll deal with it day by day.

“I think there's still a long time from the season starting. Lots of things could happen before then. Lots of things could happen throughout the year. We'll deal with things day by day and kind of let it play out.”

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