Fans were left scratching their head when they switched on their TVs to watch the NHL game between the Florida Panthers vs the Utah Hockey Club on Friday night, March 29. They knew it would happen sooner or later, but that didn’t make Brad Marchand being on the ice for the Panthers any less weird. After all, it still feels like yesterday when he was made captain of the Boston Bruins—the team he wanted to play for his entire career.

“It means more to me than I think anyone will ever know to be able to wear a ‘C’ for this team,” said Marchand after taking over the captaincy from Patrice Bergeron. It was really a no-brainer for the Bruins. After all, Marchand had already spent 15 seasons in the Bruins camp, two of which he spent as an alternate captain. He was also the sixth in goals (372) and ninth in assists (490). It seemed like the beginning of a new chapter in the Bruins-Marchand saga.

Until the disagreement.

Per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Marchand and the Bruins had come to an agreement over a three-year extension, but they were not on the same page as far as the AAV was concerned. Marchand even had a face-to-face meeting with the Bruins management, asking for a compromise, but the Bruins felt that they had stretched themselves enough already. Marchand was surprised. His time with the franchise of his life had run its course.

And in a historic move, he was traded to the biggest. Panthers GM Bill Zito was excited to welcome him. When the fans saw him in the red jersey instead of black and gold, they were shocked. It was something different.

Brad Marchand splits the NHL community

Immediately after his Panthers debut on Friday, the community got divided. While one section was happy with his trade and welcomed him, the large section couldn’t get over the shock. They found it hard to believe.

One such fan wrote, “Seeing Brad Marchand in a Florida Panthers jersey is so weird lol.” The Panthers eliminated them in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023. Those feelings of loss kicked in for the fans. One such person mentioned, “It’s hard watching Brad Marchand as a Florida Panther. 😥”

Some fans were angry with the Bruins for trading their captain. Brad Marchand played for almost 16 seasons for them. That’s a long time. No one had ever thought in their wildest dreams that he will get traded. One such fan mentioned, “I’m watching a panthers game to watch Brad Marchand play. If someone told me this last year I’d laugh in their face.”

Unlike these, a section of Panthers’ fans loved his debut. They were pleased to see him rocking the red jersey. In fact, one fan tried to hype the veteran as he replied, “We’re in this. Supporting my new favorite player, Brad Marchand. #TimeToHunt” Even though Marchand is nearing 37, he is yet to hit a major slump. He recorded 21 goals and 26 assists for the Bruins this season, and already has a Florida Panthers assist to his name after just one game.

A person was caught in amazement as he revealed his feelings, “Brad Marchand playing for the Panthers and never thought I would see him in the lineup for my hockey team #TimeToHunt”

Yeah. Brad Marchand playing for any other team other than the Bruins is going to take some time to sink in, no matter which side of the trade fans find themselves in.