On Friday night, the Florida Panthers included Brad Marchand in their starting lineup for the game against the Utah Hockey Club. Despite being acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins three weeks earlier, Marchand had been sidelined due to an upper-body injury and had yet to make his debut with Florida until this matchup.
During warm-ups, Marchand was met with enthusiastic support from fans around the rink, even tossing a puck into the stands as a souvenir for a group of supporters. When the starting lineup was announced, he received the loudest cheers among Florida’s players, highlighting the anticipation surrounding his first appearance in a Panthers uniform.
This game marked a significant milestone in Marchand’s career, as it was the first time in 1,091 regular-season NHL games—and 1,248 total games including playoffs—that he skated onto the ice wearing something other than a Bruins jersey. Marchand played on Florida’s second line alongside Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich. Interestingly, Samoskevich, who grew up in New England, had spent much of his childhood watching Marchand play for Boston.
Reflecting on his experience playing with the veteran forward, Samoskevich expressed admiration for Marchand’s skill and hockey sense. “It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “He’s such a good player. So silky. I feel like when he has the puck, he sees you—he’s got eyes in the back of his head. It’s a lot of fun. Excited for the future with him. He’s such a good guy off the ice, too.”
Before joining the Panthers, Marchand had recorded 21 goals and 26 assists in 61 games with the Bruins this season. Florida’s head coach, Paul Maurice, noted that Marchand’s addition to the team was strategic, believing he would be instrumental in their playoff push and pursuit of a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship.
Maurice spoke highly of Marchand’s career, emphasizing his extensive experience and competitive nature. “He’s had an incredible career,” Maurice stated. “He’s a Stanley Cup champion, 1,000 games, 1,000 penalty minutes, lots of points. I don’t want to see it all in one game… You know how tenacious this guy is, how physical he is, how hard he plays. Then you get him in practice and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, he’s got hands on him.’ And you start to realize how good the skill level is there.”
The sight of Marchand wearing Florida’s colors might have seemed unusual at first, especially given the fierce playoff battles between the Bruins and Panthers in both 2023 and 2024—series that Florida ultimately won. However, those within the organization agree that he has seamlessly integrated into the team.
Gus Forsling, one of Florida’s defensemen, praised Marchand’s presence and impact. “He brings a lot of energy to the locker room and a lot of compete on the ice,” Forsling said. “A huge veteran that’s going to be big for us.”
With Marchand’s experience, skill, and leadership, the Panthers hope he will play a crucial role in their championship aspirations.
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