For those that watched the Boston Bruins last season, especially during their playoff run against the Carolina Hurricanes, one obvious thing was the lack of size. The Hurricanes bullied the Bruins throughout the seven-game series, and it was the lack of physicality and size that ultimately cost the Bruins as smaller players such as Matt Grzelcyk and Mike Reilly were exposed on the defensive side. The Bruins will look to address this issue in free agency as reports have come out that they have set their sights on a big-bodied left-winger.
‘The Fourth Period’ reported that the Bruins have been linked to free agent forward Mason Marchment.
The 27-year-old Marchment is coming off his best pro season as he recorded 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points across 54 games for the Florida Panthers last season. The 6’4″ 209-pound winger would bring much size and skill to a team that needs an upgrade. With Marchand and Hall slated as your top-six left-wingers, Marchment could slot on the third line with Charlie Coyle creating a dynamic duo of size and talent.
Marchment is undoubtedly due for a raise as he’s coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $925K with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being acquired by the Florida Panthers during the 2020-2021 season.
While he is due for a raise, he should not break the bank as he has only one productive season under his belt leading to the Bruins being able to get him for a reasonable price potentially. If the Bruins are serious about getting bigger and better, Marchment would be the first step in addressing the issue. As the roster sits, the Bruins have more question marks than answers as they are not currently constructed to win a Stanley Cup. If the Bruins wish to compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference and those in the west, they must make moves to improve their roster from top to bottom.
