“Barkov Raves About Marchand’s Stunning Panthers Debut: What Surprised Everyone Most?”

In a surprising turn of events, Brad Marchand graced the ice for the 1,091st time in his NHL career—only this time, he was donning the colors of the Florida Panthers instead of the Boston Bruins. For the 36-year-old left winger, this game marked a pivotal moment, not just as a continuation of his storied career, but as a new chapter in an unexpected journey. Traded to the Panthers just before the March 7 trade deadline, Marchand found himself transitioning from a long-standing icon of Boston hockey to a crucial player for the reigning Stanley Cup champions. After nursing an injury post-trade, his return couldn’t have come sooner. In his debut with the Panthers, he contributed significantly to a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against the Utah Hockey Club, proving that his presence would certainly be felt in this new environment. Watching him suit up for another team was a nostalgic twist for many Bruins fans, a reminder of just how rapidly the landscape of sports can shift. As Marchand embraces this fresh opportunity, the camaraderie he shares with his new teammates—especially in light of past playoff rivalries—adds a compelling layer to his story. With the Panthers positioned at the top of the Atlantic Division, one can only imagine the heights they might reach with a player of Marchand’s caliber on their roster. LEARN MORE

Brad Marchand played in the 1,091st game of his NHL career on Friday night. That’s not a milestone number, but it’s noteworthy because it was the first time he took the ice for a team not named the Boston Bruins.

The 36-year-old left wing was traded from the Bruins to the Florida Panthers not long before the March 7 NHL trade deadline. He was injured at the time of the trade and missed several weeks, but he made his debut for the defending Stanley Cup champions Friday and helped lead them to a 2-1 overtime victory against the Utah Hockey Club at home.

Marchand tallied four shots on net and picked up the primary assist on Sam Bennett’s game-winning goal in OT.

It was a weird sight for Bruins fans to see Marchand put on the sweater of a different team after he spent the first 15-plus seasons of his career in Boston.

It had to have been weird for some of the Panthers players, too, many of whom played against Marchand in several intense Stanley Cup Playoff games versus the Bruins over the last two seasons.

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was seen laughing on the bench next to Marchand during a stoppage in play Friday night. He explained the interaction postgame to Panthers rinkside reporter Katie Engelson:

“I realized I heard this many times from one Boston player, but now I hear this from my own teammate,” Barkov said. “…When they announced Marchand in the starting lineup, you’re just sitting there and thinking, is this real? You just battled against him, and now, all of a sudden, you’re his teammate. It’s crazy, but it was awesome.”

The Panthers entered Saturday with a 44-25-3 record (91 points) atop the Atlantic Division.

They have a great chance to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year, and having another former champ like Marchand in the mix can only help.