When Brad Marchand traded his Boston Bruins jersey for a Florida Panthers uniform, he hoped for a fresh start. But seems like he had to do a crash course in enduring his new team’s hijinks. As the Florida Panthers stormed to a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena, Marchand opened up on a tradition that was masked as lighthearted “bullying” from captain Aleksander Barkov. But what is this tradition he is talking about?

After the win, he was interviewed by their TV rinkside reporter Katie Engleson, who shared the interview on her X handle. The video was shared with the caption, “

First postgame bench interview with Brad Marchand did not disappoint.” Marchand is often known for his straightforward answers and willingness to speak his mind. Reflecting on the post-game tradition, where his captain Aleksander Barkov hit him with rats after the game. Marchand, like always, was candid in his response: “I don’t think I had a choice in that. They are just bullying me.”

Talking about the game, he further added, “

But we are having fun and you know when you win games, you know fun comes out in many ways, it’s part of it.” His words captured the essence of the Panthers’ competitive yet camaraderie-driven spirit, where intensity on the ice often coexists with fun and mutual respect. And the rat tradition? That has continued to play a huge role in that. As for its origins, it goes way back to when Scott Mellanby one-timed a rat into the dry wall of the makeshift locker room in Miami Arena ahead of their 1995-96 home opener against the Calgary Flames. That seemed to have brought some luck to Mellanby as he scored a brace in the game—a feat which former Panthers goalie, John Vanbiesbrouck, referred to as the first “rat-trick” ever.

And then began the

Season of the Rats.

Fans started celebrating every Panthers goal by throwing plastic rats for the rest of the season, even prompting the Panthers management to hire fake exterminators to get rid of them. While that tradition has ebbed and flowed over the years, it seems like Captain Sasha Barkov has been taking it seriously by making it a point to throw rubber rodents on the ice after every victory. And although he didn’t know much about the tradition initially, he has embraced it wholeheartedly ever since his debut for the team. After his OT assist won the Panthers the game against the Utah Hockey Club, Marchand collected a couple of the rubber rodents that the fans had thrown on the ice as souvenirs for his kids.

Hardly surprising considering he has often been called a ‘rat’ thanks to his on-ice shenanigans.

As for the latest victory that elicited the celebration, it highlighted

Marchand’s adjustment to a Panthers squad that’s now 3rd in the division with 96 points and a 26-11-2 score at home. His goal was a step forward, but Florida’s physical identity, driven by Barkov’s example, stole the show. As Marchand settles in, he’s learning that surviving the Panthers’ “bullying” is just part of the fun—and the price of winning and scoring goals.

Brad Marchand is enjoying scoring goals with the Panthers

Brad Marchand’s March 7, 2025, trade to Florida shook the NHL. Having played 1,090 games and scored 422 goals and one Stanley Cup as a Boston winger, the 36-year-old had the overwhelming challenge of building anew. The upper-body ailment that prevented him from appearing for the Panthers until March 27 didn’t deter him from his eventual first game. With his trademark toughness, he broke onto the scene. His first goal, a third-period wrister from a slick Balinskis pass, put Florida up 3-1 against Detroit. His teammates mobbed him as fans chanted “Mar-chy!”—a gesture that he is already gaining favor with the Sunrise faithful.