With Marchand Gone, Is Pastrňák Boston’s Next Captain?
Boston Bruins opening night, October 6, 2011
Written by Gina Anton
On March 7, 2025, the Boston Bruins made a franchise-altering move: veteran forward Brad Marchand was traded, marking the end of an era. With his departure, the last remaining member of the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team exited the organization, closing a significant chapter in the team’s history. In losing Marchand, the Bruins not only parted ways with a highly skilled player but also a cornerstone of their leadership core for over a decade.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Bruins and Marchand had been on the verge of securing a three-year contract extension before negotiations ultimately collapsed.
"Where I think this really went sideways was there was a point this week where Brad Marchand—who is currently injured and not in the lineup—asked for a face-to-face meeting with Bruins management," Friedman shared during a segment on Sportsnet. "I don't know exactly when it was. I don't know exactly who was there. But it did happen, and in that meeting, Brad Marchand asked for a compromise. He said, 'I will compromise; I will bend on some of my requests. I'm asking the Bruins to bend on some of their stance. And we'll find a way to get this deal done,' because he wanted to stay as a Bruin.
"It just didn't happen. The Bruins had gone as far as they were willing to go," Friedman added, noting that Marchand was "stunned" by the team’s decision. "I think it really hurt Marchand that the face-to-face meeting couldn't get a deal done."
Marchand, who spent the first 16 seasons of his NHL career in Boston, will now begin a new chapter with the Florida Panthers. In a press conference following the trade, he addressed his future with a characteristic edge: “I want to play until I get kicked out of the league.”
As the Bruins look ahead to the 2025–26 season, they do so without a captain—a rarity for an organization long known for its stable leadership.
"Everything is on the table right now. We've been forward with everybody and honest with everybody that we're going to start without it," said Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney during the team’s annual golf tournament in Plymouth. "We've got a leadership group that's been meeting amongst themselves, and I think somebody will emerge as the guy that should be the next captain."
Speculation has already begun surrounding the future captain. Many eyes are on David Pastrňák, the Czech-born star who has served as an alternate captain for the past four seasons. With his tenure, on-ice excellence, and growing leadership presence, Pastrňák is widely viewed as a natural candidate to lead the Bruins into their next era—and hopefully toward another Stanley Cup.
