The hockey world is shocked after Brad Marchand, a 2010 third-round pick, was traded to the Florida Panthers before the NHL trade deadline.
The Boston Bruins have received a conditional second-round pick for 2027, which can turn into a first-round pick for 2028 if they win two rounds of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Marchand, who was on his second season of being captain for the Bruins, had trading rumours around him, but it was expected that the Boston team would come to an agreement with the player on his future.
Since being selected by the team in 2010, he’s been a key player on the roster, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. He is a 14-time 20-point scorer and has made the NHL All-Star team several times.
He is a 14-time 20-point scorer and has made the NHL All-Star team several times.
The Panthers general manager, Bill Zito, said that he ‘hasn’t even spoken to him yet, we just did the trade call’. The Florida team won the Stanley Cup last year and are currently leading the Atlantic Division, having a two-point margin with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Both teams played each other on March 11, seeing the Bruins win in the 3rd period with a last minute goal by the Czech player, Pavel Zacha. This is the first time in two years that the Bruins have defeated the Panthers, which leads to doubts about the signings made by the Florida Panthers.
Last Friday, the Bruins also made several other trades that unsettled many fans, such as Charlie Coyle being sent to the Colorado Avalanche and Brandon Carlo being sent to the Maple Leafs.
The Bruins are playing the Ottawa Senators on March 13, a key match for the team. Has this trade completely changed the dynamic of the league?