Panthers’ Brad Marchand ready for emotional return to Boston

BOSTON — Four days after the 2025 trade deadline, the Florida Panthers played in Boston. Brad Marchand was injured and unavailable, so he didnâ€t dress.

“Iâ€m pretty happy I wasnâ€t playing that game,†he said Monday.

Itâ€s a weird thing to say, but history proves itâ€s a good thing he couldnâ€t.

Like so many of us in the immediate aftermath of a painful breakup, the exes werenâ€t ready to see each other so soon. It would have been a night of anger, of bitterness, nasty overtones instead of a salute to a great Bruin.

Tuesday, Marchandâ€s Beantown reunion will have a much better atmosphere. Boston fans wonâ€t be thrilled to see him in Panthers†colours, but they know he landed on his feet, a Stanley Cup champion, again. Another “old guy†rejuvenated in the Florida sun.

“Iâ€m sure itâ€s going to be tough for some people,†he said, with that trademark Marchand smile and smirk. “They wonâ€t be able to cheer because they donâ€t like the Panthers very much. Maybe theyâ€ll like me enough to give a little ‘Yay†or something.

“I think there will be a little bit of love there if I do something good. If I do something bad, theyâ€ll probably boo me pretty quick.â€

• Watch Brad Marchand return to Boston on Sportsnet

  Brad Marchand will play his first game in Boston as a member of the Florida Panthers Tuesday night. Fans in Canada can watch the game on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT.

  Broadcast schedule

We all know: when the welcome video plays and the applause starts, itâ€s going to be a rousing ovation. This is the unofficial start of the Bruins and their fans celebrating the cornerstone pieces of a decade-long Eastern Conference standard-bearer — winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, going to two more Finals, finishing with a record regular-season in 2022-23.

When the run began, Marchand was still finding his way in a mature, businesslike dressing room. Emotional, talented and unique, he carved out his space, joining Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron as the heart and soul of those teams.

Charaâ€s No. 33 is being retired in January. Bergeronâ€s day will definitely come too.

The three of them went for dinner Sunday night with Tuukka Rask and Adam McQuaid. Who paid?

“They bullied me. I did.â€

Asked to name the best thing about Boston, Marchand didnâ€t hesitate: “The fans.â€

“The city is incredible… the fans make it awesome. Some of the stories, things that Iâ€ve seen fans do, a lot of them arenâ€t PG-rated. Same coffee shop every day, message on your cup if I had a good game, or (if I had a ) bad game the night before, ah, tough one for you.

“They bleed black-and-gold.â€

Two of his biggest boosters, parents Kevin and Lynn, wonâ€t be there in person, instead watching at home in Nova Scotia. Asked when she recognized the cityâ€s attachment to her son, Lynn Marchand recalled the 2011 Stanley Cup parade. The season before, Brad had one point in 20 games. He broke through as the Bruins ended a 50-year championship drought.

“Walking with him. Seeing how many people wanted to talk to him, take a picture with him,†she said.

“They were wonderful years, we were all made to feel like it was home. We have so much gratitude to the organization, all the opportunities they gave him. The fans, supporting him. There were times in his career he had some not-great moments, but the people of Boston always gave Brad another chance. We are very grateful to the owners down to the fans, 16 of the most wonderful years.

“This will be a tough one to watch, a tough one for him. It will get to his heart.â€

Who will be more emotional, Brad or his parents?

“Kevin cries at the drop of a hat,†Lynn Marchand chuckles. “We all laugh and look over at him, ‘Is he crying yet?†Iâ€ll smile more, wiping my eyes.â€

The return I remember for the pure emotion was Mats Sundinâ€s in Toronto. Uncertain if Maple Leaf fans would cheer him, he fought back tears during his deserved, prolonged ovation. Watching the linesman back away from the faceoff circle to encourage more applause — even as Sundin asked him to drop the puck — was one of those moments you donâ€t forget. It was a revelation for the stoic Swede.

Marchand joked about the comparison, saying he doesnâ€t take faceoffs so he wonâ€t have to worry about that. But anyone whoâ€s watched him knows he could be just as overwhelmed.

“I thought about it for the first time (Sunday) night… started to get a little emotional. It hits you when youâ€re here a little bit more. I hadnâ€t thought about it a ton up to this point. Thatâ€s probably why, because I will get emotional about it. Itâ€ll be hard not to. Thereâ€s too many memories.â€

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