Brad Marchand Will Not Be On Ice When Bruins' Training Camp Begins
09/18/2024 12:34 PM
The Boston Bruins will be without two key members of the team when the Black and Gold hit the ice for training camp.
General manager Don Sweeney confirmed restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman will not participate in camp until the sides reach a contract extension and forward Brad Marchand is still rehabbing from multiple offseason surgeries.
"He will not start with the regular group," Sweeney told reporters at Warrior Ice Arena on Wednesday. "He's made a heck of a lot of progress last little while. You all know Brad will do everything possible to be out there and wants to be out there."
Sweeney added the training staff and doctors have put the reigns on Marchand to not allow the Bruins captain to suffer a setback before the season gets underway.
"We're trying to get ready for the season. We're not concerned about Day 1 from Brad," Sweeney said. "We're only concerned with opening night and moving forward to his full return to health."
Marchand had procedures done on his elbow and groin, as well as a sports hernia. He played all 82 regular season games for Boston during the 2023-24 campaign but missed two Bruins playoff games after taking a questionable hit from Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett.
The 36-year-old did light skating during the captains' practices he held at Warrior Ice Arena in early September but did not participate in any physical play on the ice. Marchand is entering the final year of the eight-year contract he signed with the Bruins before the 2016-17 season. Sweeney is confident the franchise will be able to secure the "lifelong Bruin" and get an extension done to secure Marchand's retirement with a Spoked-B on his chest.
