The Boston Bruins are awaiting word on the severity of Brad Marchand's injury, which would affect either the team on the ice or the front office's plan for the NHL trade deadline.

PITTSBURGH — Bruins captain Brad Marchand, clobbered into a corner by Penguins defenseman P.O. Joseph, exited play Saturday afternoon early in the first period, requiring help off the ice by a team trainer and teammate David Pastrnak.

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is unlikely to return to Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins after suffering an upper-body injury in the first period.

Bruins captain Brad Marchand left Saturday's game at Pittsburgh in the first period with an upper-body injury.

With the Bruins need for a retool, they at least have to explore the possibility of trading one of their top wingers at the deadline.

Brad Marchand's unusual statement suggests he either knows something about his future or was trying to influence it.

Bruins captain Brad Marchand, who left Saturday's 3-2 victory at Pittsburgh in the first period with an upper-body injury, did not play in Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Wild, with Boston interim coach Joe Sacco saying "there's really nothing to report yet.

Marchand still believes in what the Bruins can accomplish: "We haven’t played our best yet. When we do, we can play with any team."

The Boston Bruins will need to be watched closely during this week. At the time of this writing, the Bruins do not hold a playoff spot, and the expectation is that they will make changes to their group because of it.

The Bruins are not expected to trade captain Brad Marchand despite his pending free agency and the playoffs slipping away.