That's a solid turnout for the optional workout, especially considering the short offseason the Cup champions had. Even more impressive was the fact that one of the players present doesn't even have a contract yet, as unsigned restricted free agent Brad Marchand took part in the practice.
Marchand didn't have much to report on the status of his contract talks, which have dragged on much longer than expected as he seeks his second deal with the club following a breakthrough season last year on the final year of his entry-level contract.
"Nothing new," Marchand said of the negotiations. "That's how it goes sometimes. It's been a long summer. I'm anxious to get something done."
Marchand wouldn't commit to showing up to the formal start of camp next Friday without a new deal in place, but remains hopeful that an agreement will be in place before then.
"I'm not thinking that far ahead right now," Marchand said when asked about possibly participating in camp. "It's just day to day, and hopefully it's done before then."
After managing just one assist and no goals in 20 games in his first of NHL action in 2009-10, Marchand, 23, emerged as a key cog in the Bruins' offense in his first full season with the big club last year. He earned Seventh Player Award honors after a 21-20-41 campaign and a plus-25 rating in the regular season, then came up even bigger in the playoffs with 11-8-19 totals and a plus-12 in 25 games.
Still, he has just that one year of NHL production on his resume, which could be part of the issue in contract talks. Marchand declined to discuss any specific sticking points in negotiations. He's leaving those discussions to his agent, Wade Arnott, but is keeping close tabs on the talks.
"I'm updated every day," Marchand said. "Every day that something happens I'm updated. So I'm very aware of what's going on, but he's doing everything. He's just kind of filling me in at the end."
Arnott has had contentious dealings with the Bruins before. His other clients include Phil Kessel, who eventually was dealt to Toronto before the start of the 2009-10 season after a summer of acrimonious talks failed to lead to a deal to keep the talented forward in Boston. The Bruins made out well in that deal, using the picks acquired to draft Tyler Seguin, Jared Knight and Dougie Hamilton, but neither side is looking for that kind of a resolution to Marchand's situation. And Marchand doesn't expect the past dealings between Arnott and the Bruins to be any kind of impediment in these talks.
"I've never thought about it," Marchand said. "I have no idea. I don't think so. I knew he was [Kessel's] agent, but it's a completely different situation.
"I'm anxious for it to get done," added Marchand, who returned to Boston from his Nova Scotia home on Saturday. "I just want to be here and be on the ice with the guys. That's all I'm really looking forward to."
