Brad Marchand reflected on a whirlwind three months that saw him go from the despair of leaving the Boston Bruins to the delight of a second Stanley Cup win, this time in the colors of the Florida Panthers.
Marchand’s six goals in the 4-2 finals win over the Edmonton Oilers – capped by Tuesday’s 5-1 Game 6 triumph in Sunrise – demonstrated his ability and longevity.
champagne showers 🍾 pic.twitter.com/KMXFfjc0ZH
— x – Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 18, 2025
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I shouldn’t have been here – Marchand
Marchand last won the cup with the Bruins in 2011 and it seemed he would end his career there only for a contract impasse that saw him move south to the Panthers in March.
It was to prove a shrewd move as the Floridians retained the trophy with Marchand key.
He said: “It feels completely different [to 2011]. I have so much more respect and appreciation for how difficult it was to get here, how hard it is and the amount of things that need to go right to win. Everything has to line up perfectly.
“My situation’s a perfect example of that. I shouldn’t have been here, but it worked out.
“It just shows you that once you become part of a group and you get into this environment … when you’re playing on the same team with each other, you create such an incredible bond.
“They already had an unbelievable culture that the new guys were able to kind of come into and just buy in and enjoy it and embrace it. They made it very easy.”
Bennett hails marvellous Marchand
Marchand has fitted in seamlessly with the Panthers, a point demonstrated by his relationship with team-mate Sam Bennett, who injured the 37-year-old with a sucker punch in the series win over the Bruins last year.
Bennett, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoffs MVP, said: “As soon as he got traded here, he chirped me in the group chat instantly for our history and the last playoffs.
“What he’s meant to this team … I truly don’t think we win a Stanley Cup without him. His leadership, his will to win, it’s inspiring. I was telling him before every game, ‘We’re going to follow you.’ And we did. He was a dog every night. He for sure could have won this trophy.
“He’s a better player and person than I ever knew and I’m grateful that I got to play with him.”
The Panthers now have a decision to make on Marchand as he is an unrestricted free agent this offseason with other teams potentially able to offer him more.
