Just like Brad Marchand’s game on the ice, his departure from Boston was not quiet. After the Bruins could not match the AAV required by their two-year captain’s camp, there was only one option pending– trade. But when the request came up, Boston was in for some more shock. Back in March, Elliotte Friedman revealed that the “hurt” Marchand “made it clear that the only team he wanted to go to was the Florida Panthers.” Yep, the same team that has been plucking nerves of the 37-year-old ever since he was drafted by them back in 2006. The trade finalized barely minutes before the deadline would close. And as it turns out, it was not just Boston that was in for a surprise. 

When Marchand settled in Miami, he revealed his choice to be with the team that showed the Bruins exit gates in the last two playoffs– “You can tell the way they prepare every day, how they recover, how they take care of themselves. They’re in to win it, and it’s special to be a part of.” Since then, he has been proving his worth to them for the lone year before he enters free agency next season. In fact, his playoff appearance for the Cats has been nothing short of exemplary, bringing his career total to 20 points in 22 postseason games. And for the Panthers?

Even the example of Game 5 where he scored two goals in the 5-2 win and broke the series tie for 3-2 is enough. For one, HC Paul Maurice is impressed. But even the decision to bring Marchand in was not in his books, not until the very second it happened. He now reveals how the story turned out in Florida as he talked to the media over a Zoom call on Sunday to talk about how the Panthers are prepping for Tuesday’s Game 6.

FloridaHockeyNow posted the media availability for Maurice. There, Dave Hyde of Sun Sentinel asked him, “Because of the importance of Brad Marchand in these playoffs, I want to go back to the trade deadline where we’re all sitting there in the last minutes of the deadline, that deal’s announced. From your vantage point, what do you remember that day? Were you surprised? You have much more knowledge than we do, were you surprised because of the last minute?”

Maurice smiled and recalled, “ I’m not sure I have that much more knowledge. I was leaving, as a matter of fact. There was a half hour before the end of the trade deadline and I was going in to say, ‘Good job, fellas, and we’ll see you tomorrow’ And Bill (Zito, GM) came out and said, ‘What about Brad Marchand?’

“If he had asked that a year and a half ago, I would have thought he was joking. And then he’s just been able to find these players that we just didn’t think were possible. And he’s been able to get those deals done. So, when he fired that out, everybody just kind of, I think there was a bit of a pause… his face was serious…Everybody nodded. And that’s it.”

The vote, clearly, was unanimous. And we can see why. Marchand’s second goal in Game 5 brought the Panthers a 3-0 lead over the Oilers in the third period. And his teammates could hardly laud his incredible play.

“They were both unbelievable, but that second one, I don’t know how he did that. I’m going to have to watch that clip a couple times and ask him to teach me something,” said an enthralled Sam Bennett after the game in reference to how Brad glided past Jake Walman and put the puck inside the Oilers’ net. But that hasn’t been the only highlight of the Canadian’s playoff campaign with the Miami squad.

Brad Marchand’s superior play keeps wooing everyone

Truth be told, Marchand has been breaking records left and right ever since he started his postseason with the Panthers. From becoming the first-ever player to score a shorthand goal and an OT goal in the same postseason game to becoming the oldest NHL player to score five goals in multiple Stanley Cup finals, the former Boston captain has been truly able to show his worth to his new squad in the most dreamlike way possible. For obvious reasons, his skills on the ice have made more people believe that age doesn’t have anything on Brad.

“At 37 years old or whatever, Marchy’s an absolute dog. I enjoy him, I enjoy him a lot,” NHL analyst Pat McAfee confessed in May, seeing Marchand’s relentless play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2 of the 2025 playoffs. McAfee’s admiration isn’t misplaced. It was Brad’s goal in the second OT that helped the Cats tie the best-of-7 series against the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals.

“Time and time again, he’s there to produce,” Sam Reinhart also admitted that having Brad Marchand on the team is like having an advantage, no matter who the opponent is, or how high-stakes the game is. That’s a lot of appreciation right there! Now, as Game 6 returns to the Florida Panthers’ home arena, do you think Marchand will have something special to pull out of his hat yet again? With unrestricted free agency kicking in after the postseason comes to an end, where do you think the hockey star will set up office next? Tell us your thoughts below.