SUNRISE, Fla. — Brad Marchand is set to play his first game for Florida.
The Panthers have announced that Marchand will be in the lineup for Friday night`s home game against the Utah Hockey Club. He was acquired in a trade from Boston three weeks ago but has been sidelined with an upper-body injury.
This will be a significant milestone as it marks the first time in Marchand`s impressive career of 1,091 NHL games (1,248 including playoffs) that he will wear a jersey other than the Bruins. He is expected to join Florida`s second line alongside Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich, who grew up admiring Marchand`s play with the Bruins.
Samoskevich expressed his excitement about playing with Marchand, saying, “It’s been a lot of fun. He’s such a skilled player. It feels like he has eyes in the back of his head when he has the puck. I’m really looking forward to playing with him in the future. He’s also a great guy off the ice.”
Prior to joining the Panthers, Marchand recorded 21 goals and 26 assists in 61 games for the Bruins this season. Panthers coach Paul Maurice believes Marchand`s addition will be crucial for the team`s playoff ambitions and their pursuit of another Stanley Cup.
Maurice praised Marchand`s career, highlighting his Stanley Cup championship, 1,000 games played, 1,000 penalty minutes, and numerous points. He emphasized Marchand`s tenacity, physicality, and high skill level, noting, “You know how tenacious this guy is, how physical he is, how hard he plays. Then you get him in practice and you`re like, ‘Oh my God, he’s got hands on him.` And you start to realize how good the skill level is there.”
Despite the initial strangeness of seeing the former Bruins captain in Panthers colors, especially after their intense playoff series in 2023 and 2024, Marchand has reportedly integrated seamlessly into the Florida team.
Panthers defenseman Gus Forsling commented on Marchand`s impact, “He brings a lot of energy to the locker room and a strong competitive spirit on the ice. He’s a valuable veteran who will be important for us.”
