Panthers Acquire Brad Marchand From Bruins

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Bill Zito made a huge last minute splash as the 3 p.m. ET NHL trade deadline hit. 

The Florida Panthers acquired forward Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in 2027, the team announced Friday.

If Marchand plays in 50% or more of the Panthers’ playoff games, the pick becomes a 2028 first, according to Panthers GM Bill Zito.

“Brad is one of the most battle-hardened forwards in NHL history and a veteran who displays a relentless compete level whenever he steps onto the ice,” said Zito. “A champion and a proven leader in the locker room, Brad is the right fit for our club to compete for a Stanley Cup once again.”

Marchand, 36, spent his entire 16-year NHL career in Boston. A Stanley Cup champion in 2011, Marchand has captained the Bruins for the past two seasons.

In 1,090 career NHL games, Marchand scored 422 goals, 554 points and 976 points. The veteran forward has also appeared in 157 playoff games, putting up 56 goals, 82 assists and 138 points. 

The Panthers will have to wait to wait a bit to utilize Marchand’s services, he’s out “a couple weeks” with an upper-body injury, per Zito. In order to make the money work, the Bruins retained “about half” of Marchand’s $6,125,000 contract. He’s a pending an unrestricted free agent.

Last month, Marchand was teammates with Panthers forwards Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart, where the trio won gold with Team Canada. Bennett and Marchand played on Canada’s fourth-line, forming a formidable partnership with their similar — highly physical — play styles.

As for his new team, Marchand will be more than familiar with this Panthers squad. He faced them in the past two postseasons, with the Panthers defeating his Bruins both times en route to consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances.