Brad Marchand eyes deal with Bruins

Updated: August 4, 2011, 1:24 AM ET

By James Murphy | ESPNBoston.com

Boston Bruins winger and restricted free agent Brad Marchand is still without a contract but in an interview on the local CTV affiliate in his native Halifax, Nova Scotia, the playoff hero who had 19 points in 25 playoff games -- including two goals in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals -- said talks between him and the Bruins are starting to pick up.

"I have no idea right now ... what the numbers are or how long it's going to be," Marchand told Steve Murphy of CTV Atlantic when asked what kind of contract he may sign. "Right now, we're just kind of getting into things. It's been a long summer and people have been on vacation and enjoying the Cup so we're going to start getting into it pretty heavily here and hopefully we'll get something done soon."

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When asked if he wanted to remain in Boston, Marchand immediately said yes.

"Of course I love it there," Marchand said.

After such a great playoff run for a rookie and 41 points in the regular season, Marchand said he is aware of the expectations that will be on him in the 2011-12 season.

"There's always pressure and every year you want to continue to get better, you don't want to drop off," Marchand said. "That's what I've been trying to do all summer is make sure I'm ready for next year."

In what was a wide-ranging interview, Marchand also said that he still remembers the hit Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban -- his off-ice friend and teammate with Hockey Canada -- laid on him last season.

"I might take a run at him if I see the chance," Marchand said with a smirk.

Marchand also said that he received congratulatory calls from former teammates and fellow Stanley Cup winners Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews.

James Murphy covers the Bruins for ESPNBoston.com.