Sources: Gap in money led to Marchand trade

The Boston Bruins put a three-year deal on the table for Brad Marchand in February, but the sides had different perspectives on money, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

That gap led the Bruins to trade their captain, who would have been an unrestricted free agent in July, to the Florida Panthers on Friday for a conditional second-round pick. It would become a first-round pick if Marchand appears in 50% of the Panthers' playoff games in the first two rounds.

Initially, two years was a sticking point in the Marchand negotiations, but Bruins management went to ownership and got the approval to offer a three-year deal in February, sources told ESPN. Marchand didn't feel the money offered was equal to his value.

Marchand, who turns 37 in May, was in the final year of an eight-year deal that carried a $6.125 million average annual value. A 2006 third-round pick, Marchand played his entire 16-year career in Boston.

The Bruins made several big moves Friday to begin looking to the future, also trading away veterans Charlie Coyle (to Colorado) and Brandon Carlo (Toronto).

When the Bruins determined they were going to trade Marchand, they worked to get him to a preferred destination. According to sources, Marchand had family considerations and wanted to stay on the East Coast if he could not be in Boston. The defending Stanley Cup champions were also an attractive destination because of their commitment to win again. Marchand's former Bruins teammates from the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton, now work in Florida's front office.

Marchand is coming off three offseason surgeries and is currently injured. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Friday that Marchand was three or four weeks away from returning.

Marchand has 21 goals and 47 points in 61 games this season, marking the 12th straight season he has scored at least 20 goals. His career high is 36 goals and 100 points in 2018-19.