Brad Marchand is preparing to return to Massachusetts.

The Boston Bruins and their captain are moving closer to a deal that will likely ensure the 36-year-old remains a Bruin for life, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada.

“The team struggled but he had a good week. Completely dispel any controversy over last week’s trade with Jim Montgomery on the Utah bench,” Friedman said. “It is said that the Bruins and Marchand are getting closer to an extension which should be three years.

“We’ll see what happens next, but they’re rumored to be getting closer.”

Marchand is in the final year of an eight-year, $49 million contract he signed in 2016. Since signing that contract, he has scored 248 goals and 644 points and played a instrumental role in leading the team to a Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

He reached the pinnacle with the Bruins in 2011 when they beat the Vancouver Canucks in seven games to win the franchise’s sixth Stanley Cup.

Marchand was named captain ahead of the 2023-24 season following the retirement of Patrice Bergeron and subsequently played in all 82 games last season, recording 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points.

With 933 points in 1,037 games, Marchand currently ranks fifth all-time among Bruins point guards, behind only Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Bergeron and Phil Esposito.