Bruins trade franchise legend Brad Marchand to Panthers: reports

The Boston Bruins person shocked the hockey world, reportedly trading franchise fable Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers earlier the NHL commercialized deadline Friday. 

Marchand had trade rumors swirling astir him considering he's a pending escaped agent, but it was ever expected that, aft 16 years, helium and the Bruins would scope an statement connected his short-term future. 

But the Bruins decided to determination him to 1 of their bitter rivals implicit the past fewer seasons. ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported the woody volition beryllium done pending a commercialized call.

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Boston Bruins near helping Brad Marchand skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the archetypal play astatine PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

"Think everyone is stunned," Kaplan said successful her report, adding Marchand is rehabbing an wounded successful Boston. 

It’s chartless what the Bruins received from the Panthers for Marchand.

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Marchand, a third-round prime by the Bruins successful 2010, helped the enactment triumph the Stanley Cup successful his 2nd season.  

Since then, Marchand has been a left-wing mainstay with 4 All-Star bids implicit his 16 years with the team. 

With Patrice Bergeron retired, Marchand had been wearing the "C" connected his sweater arsenic squad captain.

Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins skates successful warmups earlier a crippled against the Nashville Predators astatine Bridgestone Arena Feb. 16, 2023, successful Nashville. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Marchand has an upper-body wounded aft leaving during the archetypal play of the Bruins’ matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins March 1. He was awkwardly deed by defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph and ne'er returned to the bench. 

Where Marchand slots into the Panthers' lines volition beryllium absorbing to spot considering however stacked they are. But Marchand's playoff pedigree and quality to walk and sprout with precision astatine 36 years aged makes him a immense summation to Florida's chances of repeating arsenic Stanley Cup champions. 

This season, Marchand has 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points successful 61 games. 

Boston Bruins near helping Brad Marchand skates with the puck during the 3rd play against the New York Islanders astatine TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara/Imagn Images)

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In his Bruins career, Marchand has 422 goals and 554 assists for 976 points successful 1,090 games implicit 16 years. 

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