Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand has indicated that he prefers to remain in Boston. Nevertheless, with the trade deadline near at hand, that might not be solely in his hands anymore. Regardless of the player’s firm desire to be with the franchise, the Bruins front office has been fielding inquiries from teams interested in the veteran winger.

According to insider Cam Robinson, the Bruins find themselves in a tough spot. “It’s a difficult spot,” one source said. “You have to weigh the value of keeping your captain or realizing it’s time to shift assets.”

Marchand is 36 years old and is still a top player in the roster, but with the Bruins seemingly headed for a soft rebuild after their disappointing season so far, the management has a difficult decision to make. Do they stick with their captain or do they trade him before he loses value in the trade market?

The Bruins look unlikely to make the playoffs this season amidst key players going down with injury, their own streaky form and the heavy competition in the Atlantic Division. Brad Marchand has been synonymous with the Bruins for almost 15; he was also a part of the squad that won the Stanley Cup in 2011. That’s the kind of experience you can’t easily replace. But the question is if the front office values the experience Marchand brings over a fresh start.

Marchand’s commitment vs. Boston’s reality

Brad Marchand has been a stalwart in his loyalty to the Boston Bruins and made it well-established that his plan is to retire a Boston player. However, he is cognizant of a different direction for the Bruins down the road. He is on a one-year term on his current deal, and though there is discussion on a new deal, there is a possibility Boston won’t provide a multi-year extension.

Additionally, his on-ice play can come into play when it is time for his retirement. At 36 years of age, however, he is still on the ice and is currently in second place among scoring leaders this season with 20 goals. He is in 4th place, too, along with 421 goals, and his career goals for the Boston Bruins are in the top 5. The Boston Bruins have a decision between keeping him for another year and trying it a different way for a bigger future or trading this year.

In spite of his eight-team no-trade clause, there have been reportedly a variety of teams interested in acquiring the veteran left-winger. With his postseason experience and leadership, he is a commodity for any of this year’s Stanley Cup contenders.

The bruins’ dilemma is whether trading Marchand now is best. Permitting a franchise stalwart to leave is a hard pill for a fan base to swallow, but draft picks or gifted young talent potentially available in a trade can potentially hasten the rebuilding process.

Boston is famous for trading away veterans in short-term deals, such as past leaders Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Zdeno Chara. The trade is a valid possibility unless an extension is agreed on before March 7. If Boston re-signs Marchand, it may end up losing him in free agency or signing him for a term that won’t stick. Marchand is a down-to-earth player who thinks Boston can make a run for the playoffs. “We haven’t played our best yet. When we do, we can play with any team,” he said.

And the closer we get toward the trading deadline, the more there is speculation. The Bruins have a tough decision in front of them in case a Cup competitor makes an offer—keep Captain Marchand or face the realities of change. Currently, Marchand is in Boston, but each day his chances of being elsewhere increase.