Brad Marchand admitted it felt strange stepping onto the ice Friday night, hearing the cheers from his new home crowd. After all, this was once enemy territory for him.
“That was the first time it really sunk in,” Marchand said. “Being welcomed by Panthers fans was definitely a different experience.”
For the first time in 16 years—across 1,090 NHL games (1,247 including the playoffs)—the veteran winger wasn’t wearing a Boston Bruins jersey. The Florida Panthers acquired him in a trade on March 7 for a conditional 2027 second-round pick, marking the end of his long tenure with one of the league’s most storied franchises.
Marchand spent the following three weeks recovering from an upper-body injury he sustained shortly before the trade. Finally, on Friday, he made his debut with the Panthers, receiving a roaring ovation from the Amerant Bank Arena crowd when introduced in the starting lineup.
He wasted no time making an impact, assisting on Florida’s game-winning goal in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Utah Hockey Club. With 41.1 seconds left in the extra period, he delivered a slick pass to his former rival-turned-teammate Sam Bennett, looking right at home in his new surroundings.
“He hadn’t played in, what, a month? And he steps in and dominates the game,” Bennett said. “That’s tough to do, especially in your first game back with a new team. I think he’s going to fit in really well here.”
The Panthers are counting on Marchand to be a key contributor, and his arrival comes at a crucial moment. Florida (44-25-3, 91 points) entered Saturday with a one-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top spot in the Atlantic Division and a three-point advantage over the Tampa Bay Lightning, who sit in third. With just 10 games left in the regular season, the race to the finish is heating up. The Panthers continue their push at 1 p.m. Sunday, wrapping up their three-game homestand against the Montreal Canadiens (33-30-9). This stretch won’t be easy—nine of their final 10 games are against teams still fighting for a playoff spot, including two more matchups with Toronto and one against Tampa Bay.
Marchand will play a pivotal role as Florida looks to finish strong and defend its Stanley Cup title. The veteran forward, who won a championship with the Bruins in 2011 and has made 12 playoff appearances in 15 seasons, is eager to be part of the journey.
“It’s rare to be in a group like this,” Marchand said. “I’ve been on a lot of teams over the years, and you can tell when something special is happening. You just feel it when you walk into the room. That’s what they have here, and it’s exactly what you want to be part of. Not many teams are legitimate contenders year after year. But when you see the way they approach the game, the way they talk about competing, it’s clear why they’re as good as they are.”
Marchand knows firsthand just how good the Panthers are—he was on the other side of their success the past two seasons. Florida knocked out his Bruins in back-to-back postseasons, first in a dramatic seven-game series in 2023 to launch their run to the Stanley Cup Final, then again in six games last year in Round 2 on their way to winning it all. He’s well aware of the aggressive, relentless style that head coach Paul Maurice demands—one that happens to suit his game perfectly.
Since being traded, Marchand has spent time familiarizing himself with the Panthers’ systems, though his transition was delayed more by circumstance than choice. He suffered an upper-body injury on March 1 while still with Boston, keeping him out for four weeks. Instead of jumping into action immediately after the trade, he was forced to wait.
“It was tough,” Marchand admitted. “You want to be with the group right away. That’s how you build chemistry, relationships, and get comfortable on the ice. When you’re sidelined and the team is traveling, your schedule is different from everyone else’s. But I tried to be around as much as possible. The coaching staff was great—they included me in meetings and pregame preparations so I could get used to how things are done here. That definitely helped me feel more comfortable coming in.”
That comfort was evident on the ice. Marchand played on Florida’s second line alongside Sam Bennett—his teammate for Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February—and rookie winger Mackie Samoskevich. He also logged minutes on the Panthers’ second power-play unit. During his 16 and a half minutes of ice time, Florida dominated play, outshooting Utah 11-1 and generating an 11-5 advantage in scoring chances, according to advanced hockey stats from Natural Stat Trick. Marchand contributed four shots on goal, two hits, and two blocked shots, along with his primary assist on the overtime game-winner.
“You already know how tenacious and physical he is, how hard he competes,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “Then you see him in practice, and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, his hands are incredible.’ That’s when you start to fully appreciate the skill level he brings.”
Adding another elite playmaker is a huge asset for Florida as the playoffs near. Marchand is expected to remain on the second line with Bennett, and once Matthew Tkachuk returns from the lower-body injury he suffered during the 4 Nations Face-Off, he could seamlessly slot in alongside them. A potential move to the top power-play unit is also on the table.
“That’s the challenge—we’re going to have options,” Maurice said.
For now, Marchand’s focus is on continuing to adjust and finding his rhythm with his new team. Friday was a strong first step.
“With each passing day, I feel more comfortable and more connected with the group,” Marchand said. “Being out there every day, fully immersed in everything, makes that transition happen even faster. I’m excited to keep building with this team.”
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