Brad Marchand is getting ready to play in the Stanley Cup Final, where his Florida Panthers will face the Edmonton Oilers for the second year in a row. However, Marchand will forever be remembered for his 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins. Now, Marchand is opening up about his true feelings toward his former team.
Brad Marchand is one of the most important players in modern Boston Bruins history, having won a Stanley Cup in 2011. For the past two seasons, he also served as the team captain. But in March, the Bruins traded Marchand to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft—a move that upset many Bruins fans.
Fits perfectly with the Panthers
For Marchand, however, the trade presents a new opportunity: he is now preparing to play in his fourth Stanley Cup Final. Since arriving in Florida, Marchand has proven to be an excellent fit. His style of play complements the Panthers’ system, and he has made a significant contribution to the team’s success. The Panthers are making their third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, where they will face the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of last year’s series.
Brad Marchand about the trade
The beginning of the season with the Bruins was difficult for both Marchand and the team. He was recovering from a summer in which he underwent three separate surgeries—challenges that ultimately contributed to his departure.
“I didn’t really expect the contract negotiations to go the way they did. I thought it was going to be a lot different, which obviously impacted me mentally this year. I was frustrated by it,” Marchand told NHL.com.
“I never really wanted to play out contract years because I didn’t want to deal with that stress. I always wanted the security—maybe take a little less to get a deal done early, so I could just focus on playing hockey,” he added.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will be played on Wednesday in Edmonton.
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