It had been 14 years since Brad Marchand last won the Stanley Cup. When play resumed after the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, everyone thought that the drought would extend to 15 years, but fate played a different card. A shocking deadline trade to division rivals, the Florida Panthers, put the former Bruins captain right in the mix. 10 goals, 10 assists, and 20 points later, the 37-year-old did the unthinkable.

After barely three months with the Panthers, Marchand lifted his second Stanley Cup. The Rat King became an invaluable part of the Panthers’ squad, scoring season-saving goals like his overtime winner against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2, Game 3. Yet, it’s after winning the ultimate NHL prize that the Cats’ forward revealed other talent, and his former Bruins teammate had a hilarious take on it.

While discussing Zdeno Chara’s Hockey Hall of Fame nomination with retired Bruin Patrice Bergeron, Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin shared the 6x Selke Trophy winner’s tidbit on Brad Marchand. “He was very close to being the MVP [the Conn Smythe winner] … but I think he’s trying to be the MVP of the celebration. I think that’s what he’s going for,” she quoted Bergeron.

It seems Bergeron still can’t help but joke a bit about his ex-teammate. However, the 39-year-old wasn’t far off with his claims. Even the former Bruin’s new teammates got the perfect idea of Marchand’s party animal side. In fact, Sam Reinhart actually crowned their newest veteran teammate, the star of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup celebration.

“Who would you guys rank as the first star for the entire celebration so far?” asked Paul Bissonnette. While names like Reinhart and Luostarinen came up, Sam Reinhart himself gave it to Brad Marchand. “Marchy’s up there for sure. The whole Mar family,” said the Panthers forward. And guess what? The 37-year-old was truly close to winning the Conn Smythe.

Brad Marchand missed out by the narrowest of margins

The Rat King’s epic playoff performance didn’t go unnoticed by the Conn Smythe Trophy voters. A panel of Professional Hockey Writers Association members voted to decide the NHL’s playoff MVP, and two clear favorites emerged. Sam Bennett led, winning 11 of 18 possible votes, while Marchy earned 7. The NHL veteran also earned all the remaining second-place votes.

So when the panel tallied up the points, Brad Marchand sat in second place, just 8 points behind Bennett (76-68). While winning the Stanley Cup after such a rollercoaster season was historic in itself, winning the Conn Smythe would’ve been the cherry on the cake. What’s more? The 37-year-old even broke multiple records during the playoffs.

Joining “Mario Lemieux as the only player in NHL history to score five goals in multiple Stanley Cup Finals in the last 59 years,” as per The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, was among those records. However, it was difficult to argue against Bennet’s case. Bennett’s 15 goals tied him for the second-most in one playoff run in the salary cap era, and 12 of them came in away games.

And that wasn’t just a franchise record but an NHL record. Additionally, the forward notched 7 assists, beating Brad Marchand’s 20-point playoff run by 2 points. Yet it’s quite clear that Marchand didn’t need the Conn Smythe to prove his value to the Panthers. If the rumors are true, then the NHL star is well on his way to signing a four-year extension with the Panthers.