After spending 16 years with the Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand is now a two-time Stanley Cup champion, lifting the trophy as a member of the Florida Panthers following his mid-season move to Sunrise.
The midseason trade from Boston saw Mrachand switch sweaters for the first time in his career, and the decision made by the Bruins' brass didn't sit well with "Spittin' Chiclets" host and former NHL player Ryan Whitney.
“One of the first thoughts in my X spaces was, like, (expletive) Boston, what are you doing?” Whitney said on Wednesday. “First, (expletive) Boston for being that bad, to then trade him, and then — what are you doing? What am I missing here?”
The move stunned Whitney, who couldn’t understand why the Bruins would part ways with a player they’d just named team captain before the season.
“Even if you’re like, sort of rebuilding, like he’s your captain, a legend,” Whitney said. “Why did they trade him?”
The Bruins dealt Marchand to the Panthers while sitting outside the playoff picture, securing just a conditional draft pick in exchange for their captain ahead of his pending free agency.
There is some speculation about Marchand's potential return to Boston, but neither the Bruins nor the player has confirmed any mutual interest in doing so.
Marchand was instrumental in the Panthers' late regular-season and postseason push through the Eastern Conference and nearly won the Conn Smythe, falling just eight voting points short of teammate Sam Bennett.
Florida eliminated Boston in 2023 and 2024, but the Bruins failed to make the playoffs this season. Marchand first won the Cup as a rookie in Boston all the way back in 2011.
