"The lack of a new contract didn't prevent Bruins forward Brad Marchand from reporting to the team's Ristuccia Arena practice facility Thursday for the first of the team's informal captains' practices in preparation for next week's official start of training camp.

Marchand was one of around 20 players who hit the ice for a little more than an hour of drills. He became a restricted free agent July 1 after the expiration of his entry-level contract, and talks between the Bruins' brass and Marchand's agent Wade Arnott are ongoing.

Marchand didn't have much in the way of a progress report about those talks when he got off the ice.

"I'm anxious to get a deal done. But I just want to be here and be on the ice with the guys," he said."