With Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy on the shelf, Charlie Coyle and Brandon Carlo have both been elevated to Bruins ’ alternate captains. It’s a proud distinction, an official designation of leadership for a team they’ve spent most of the last decade with.

A trade pitch has the Boston Bruins trading Brandon Carlo to the Dallas Stars in a blockbuster deal ahead of the deadline.

When Don Sweeney met with the media on Feb. 23 to talk about the health of Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy, the Bruins general manager used the opportunity to soften the ground a little bit to prepare people for what was likely coming not far down the road.

The Bruins have to make a call on trading Brad Marchand in the next few days. Here are the pros and cons of such a move.

Brad Marchand is week to week for the Boston Bruins because of an upper-body injury, and he won't play before Friday's NHL Trade Deadline.