Browsing: Brad

Oct 21, 2025, 08:21 PM ET

BOSTON — The Little Ball of Hate still has a lot of love back in Boston.

Brad Marchand appeared to be holding back tears on the ice when the TD Garden crowd gave him a standing ovation Tuesday night during his first game as a Bruins opponent. The 37-year-old forward tapped his heart, wiped his face and waved to the crowd as both teams banged their sticks against the ice and even the referee and each linesperson clapped along.

The last remaining member of Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, Marchand was traded to the Panthers last season for another chance at a title. He helped Florida complete its pursuit of back-to-back championships, while the Bruins plummeted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

In his first game back as a Panther, the Boston crowd cheered him off the ice after the pregame warmups, as the TD Garden DJ played a mashup of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Marchand responded with a stick salute as he headed off via the visitors bench.

Fans wearing Marchand’s Boston and Florida No. 63 jerseys cheered again during introductions for the former Bruins captain. (They booed when he drew a tripping penalty just 33 seconds into the game, then gave a mixed reaction when the Panthers scored on the power play — a goal that first appeared to be Marchand’s but was credited to Mackie Samoskevich; Marchand picked up an assist.)

But things got really emotional during a commercial break midway through the first period, when the scoreboard showed a highlight reel from Marchand’s time in Boston — including shots of him raising the Stanley Cup, and ending with him posing with the captain’s “C” that he wore for just one full season.

A four-time All-Star who had 422 goals and 554 assists in 16 seasons in Boston, Marchand remains in the Bruins’ top 10 for goals, assists, short-handed and overtime goals, playoff goals and points. His 1,090 games played is fourth in team history, one spot ahead of Don Sweeney, the general manager who dealt him to Florida at the trade deadline.

Marchand did play in the TD Garden as a visitor in February when he suited up for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Although he was still a member of the Bruins, the Boston fans booed him.

He was traded to Florida a few weeks later as Boston sold off its roster and began a rebuild. But when the Panthers visited for the Bruins’ first home game after the trade deadline, Marchand was injured and skated on the Garden ice only in practice.

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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€

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• 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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Brad Marchand will have to take some money out of his rainy-day funds after a fight Saturday night.

The Florida Panthers forward has been fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after a scuffle with Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, the NHL’s department of player safety announced Sunday.

Things initially got heated between the two when Dahlin checked Marchand from behind midway through the second period, much to the chagrin of the 37-year-old. The two made contact again moments later, which led to Dahlin falling onto the ice before Marchand pounced on the Swedish D-man to throw some punches.

Though it wasn’t specified what part of the brawl prompted the fine from the league, Marchand did take the fight an extra step, skating away with Dahlin’s helmet after referees stepped in to stop the action.

As he was being escorted to the penalty box (two minutes for interference and two for roughing), Marchand was seen holding onto a blue Sabres helmet.

He kept hold of it all the way into the sin bin, where he ripped the straps off the helmet before chucking it back onto the ice. Dahlin, who was not penalized on the play, was seen shaking his head and making comments in the direction of Marchand following those antics, but nothing more came from the incident.

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As the Leafs continue to work through options in training camp, head coach Craig Berube has made it clear that he will try different players in that spot. With Max Domi sidelined at the start of the camp, Matias Maccelli got a chance to audition playing on the top line against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

During an appearance on The Kyper and Bourne Show,Treliving was asked about how he plans to approach potential additions. The Leafs’ general manager emphasized patience and flexibility rather than rushing into an external move.

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“Step one right now is seeing what we have in camp,†Treliving told hosts Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne. “I know everybodyâ€s focused on that one spot, and certainly we are, but you donâ€t know where chemistry is going to come from. You can put it on paper, but until you get on the ice and see who fits with who, you donâ€t know.â€

Beyond offensive production, Treliving also stressed that the right complement for Matthews and Knies may bring a different set of skills to that spot, much like Mitch Marner did before his departure in the off-season.

“Sometimes it needs a little bit of different ingredients — whether itâ€s a defensive presence, someone who can forecheck, create loose pucks, create space,†Treliving explained. “Itâ€s easy to say, ‘Letâ€s go get a top-six forward.†Well, who is that? And what is the cost?â€

While the Leafs do have cap space to work with, they also have a lot of forwards signed. If they do want to look to the trade market, they will have to get creative, considering their depleted stock of draft picks. Toronto does not have a first-round pick to offer until 2028 and only has three selections in 2026.

That balance between internal solutions and external options is central to Torontoâ€s approach. Treliving also made it clear the Leafs will continue to evaluate both avenues as the season approaches.

“Weâ€re going to continue to look internally while also continuing to look outside and see if thereâ€s an availability for somebody that can come in and help us,†he said.

Treliving expects bounce-back year from Rielly

When it comes to improving on the ice, Treliving pointed to Morgan Rielly as a player the Leafs need at his very best this season.

At the start of training camp, Treliving said that he had a conversation with the 31-year-old about getting the best out of him right from the beginning of the season.

“What we need is the best version of Morgan,†Treliving said. “There was a fire to him this summer. He really put a lot of work into his preparation, and I donâ€t remember many days that Morgan wasnâ€t at the facility.â€

He noted that the defender lost weight during the off-season, which spoke to his commitment to being in better shape to start the season.

Injuries were not a problem for Rielly last season as he played in all 82 games. However, he had a noticeable drop in production, scoring just seven goals and 41 points. He also saw himself taken off his usual spot as the PP1 quarterback.

Treliving believes that the depth allows the team to get more out of all its players.

“It doesn’t just stop at Morgan. You know, I like our blue line,” Treliving said. “We start the year now with Carlo, who came here last year. There is depth there, it’s an experienced group, and you’ve got some guys pushing from underneath. At the end of the day, to be a good organization, you need that at all positions, you need people pushing, and we certainly have that.”

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What are the Leafs’ options during Joseph Wollâ€s absence?

The Leafs†goaltending picture has also been complicated by the absence of Joseph Woll.

The 27-year-old is taking a leave of absence from the team to attend to a personal family matter with no timeline for his return.

Treliving made it clear that the team is giving him time and space.

“For right now, Joeâ€s not available to us. Weâ€re there to support him and do everything we can, and we certainly expect him back,†Treliving said. “At this point, we donâ€t know when that is. So, like anything, an opportunity now presents itself for somebody else.â€

That “somebody else†could be Dennis Hildeby, who Treliving said is entering a crucial moment in his development.

“This was kind of his time for me,†the Leafs general manager said. “Heâ€s had two years now over in North America, heâ€s shown at times he can be spectacular in the American Hockey League, and heâ€s had a really good camp thus far.â€

While Wollâ€s absence creates uncertainty, Treliving stressed that the organization will continue to monitor the market for options at every position.

“Youâ€re always looking at ways to get better,†he said. “Whether a player was taking a leave or not, weâ€re constantly asking if thereâ€s another option that can best support us.â€

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