Brad Marchand was quite emotional during his return to Boston, now playing for the Panthers.
In a show of appreciation, the Bruins honored Marchand with a video tribute that played during Tuesday’s game. It featured memorable moments from his impressive 15-year tenure in Boston, including his Stanley Cup victory in 2011.
The 37-year-old sat on the Panthers’ bench, watching the highlights roll on the TD Garden screen, struggling to keep his emotions in check. As he managed to regain his composure, he jumped over the boards and waved his cane to acknowledge the fans, who greeted him with a loud ovation.
Marchand’s trade to the Panthers happened right before last season’s trade deadline, which saw Boston receive a conditional second-round pick for 2027. He played a pivotal role in helping Florida clinch back-to-back Stanley Cups and subsequently inked a six-year deal to stay with the team.
This transition has certainly been significant for him, a fact that was apparent on Tuesday.
In a pregame chat with NESN, Marchand expressed his gratitude to Bruins fans, saying, “I just want to thank everyone for a great stint here. This has been the best year for me.”
He paused, visibly moved, adding, “I want to thank you all for everything. The last 15 years have been the best years of my life.”
During his time with Boston, he played 1,090 games, netting 422 goals and accumulating 976 points. Marchand ranks fourth for games played in franchise history and sits fourth on the Bruins’ all-time scoring leaderboard.
Moreover, he is also fifth in terms of scoring in the team’s history.
