When Brad Marchand was traded from the Boston Bruins to the Florida Panthers, it really caught NHL fans off guard. He was first seen in that Panthers outfit during the interview, and he was really struggling to get his words out because he was feeling so emotional. “You know, I’ve had an incredible run in that organization and I’m extremely proud. Just how things went there. Sorry. So, yeah, it was very disappointing that things didn’t get done just because, obviously, I love the organization. I wanted to stay there. But at the end of the day, I also know that business is business, and every player has a shelf life regardless if that’s when we want it to be or not,” the former Bruins captain shared.

Yeah, he was really heartbroken. 16 seasons, he spent with Boston, including some great moments like winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. It was pretty clear that there was a connection. But just a few months later, he’s really settled into his new franchise, and the whole story has turned around. “The guys are just there to help every day. When you have a veteran group and guys that have been through big moments before, everyone just goes about their business. It’s very easy to fall into place and just do your role. It’s a special group,” Marchand said, expressing his happiness to be part of a team like Florida. And why wouldn’t he be?

The Panthers are on fire in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs! They’ve been crushing teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, they’re up against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, and they’ve already got a 2-0 lead after Game 2. Exciting times! Brad Marchand’s been super important for the Panthers as they make their playoff push. So, after 14 games, he’s got a record of 3-9-12, making him one of the top scorers on the team. But there’s even more that the forward brings to his team.

On X, Jameson Olive, the Sr. Digital Content Manager for the Panthers, shared what defenseman Niko Mikkola had to say about Marchand, who mentioned, “It’s important. You have a day off, and you don’t think about hockey too much. You just live your normal life.” Olive shared that Mikkola said he thought Marchand set up a team outing to Dairy Queen on a day off, highlighting how important it is to relax and connect outside of hockey.

This simple gesture really highlights Marchand’s grasp of how teams work together and the importance of friendship among teammates. After 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins, Marchand has a ton of experience and a championship background to bring to Florida. The coach mentioned his impact once, too.

Paul Maurice confirmed the ‘Brad Marchand effect’

Panthers coach Paul Maurice didn’t hold back when he said, “You guys won’t like hearing this, but there’s a Brad Marchand effect there.” So, this happened right after the franchise’s huge Game 7 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Maurice really laid it out there with his statement.

Absolutely, Marchand has been a key player for the Panthers ever since he joined the team. He kicked off his time in the outfit during the regular season, but he only got to play 10 games, ending up with a record of 2-2-4. But things took a turn in the playoffs, and now after 14 games, he’s sitting with a 3-9-12 record. That’s really impressive!

Maurice also mentioned how Marchand was directly affecting the locker room, saying, “There is. And that’s a [Anton] Lundell score tonight, a roll off the slot hole. And he’s affected those guys in such a positive way about thinking about the game and the small-area plays. And I felt those two young guys had it in them, but the role that I gave them stunted them. I wouldn’t let them do that.” Maurice really appreciated this because the forward is adding a lot of value with his extensive postseason experience, even though he was with a different team.

The Panthers are really taking charge against the Canes in the Eastern Conference Final! It’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the games play out for the franchise.