Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is among the noteworthy NHL stars eligible for UFA status next July.

The 36-year-old left winger has a cap hit of $6.125 million, making him a bargain for the Bruins throughout his eight-year contract.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Marchand and the Bruins were getting close to an agreement on a three-year contract extension. However, Marchand swiftly denied this, saying the report was false.

“Clearly, Elliotte is just wrong here,” he told reporters.

Marchand added he wouldn't discuss his contract status with the media. He added that if he was signing a three-year deal, it would've happened by now.

Boston Hockey Now's Andrew Fantucchio believes contract talks between Marchand and Bruins management have been ongoing. He pointed out that Bruins GM Don Sweeney told the press on Sept. 30 that he'd had held plenty of discussions with Marchand's camp but declined to elaborate on the progress.

Time will tell whether Marchand re-signs with the Bruins and for how long. It's clear neither side wishes to discuss things through the press.

Related: As Bruins' Marchand Defends Coach For Spat, Not Every Argument Creates Bad Blood

Turning to the Anaheim Ducks, NHL insider Nick Kypreos reported in his Toronto Star column that Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson should be nearing his return from an emergency appendectomy on Sept 26. The anticipated recovery period was three to six weeks.

Kypreos believes the 31-year-old netminder could draw interest from clubs having difficulties between the pipes, such as the Colorado Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins. He also claimed the Carolina Hurricanes came close to acquiring Gibson during the summer, but the deal fell through.

Gibson's stats have suffered with the rebuilding Ducks over the last three seasons. Nevertheless, it's been suggested he could improve playing for a better club. His contract could be a sticking point. He's signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.

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