“I’ve always wanted to play till I was 40, that’s kind of the goal I’ve had for a while,” said Brad Marchand in a podcast interview earlier this year when asked about his plans for the future. But that doesn’t mean that he wants to be dead weight. He will continue to lace up only as long as he thinks he is still “effective.” He was still sporting the Bruins’ black and gold when he said this, and there’s no reason to believe that he has changed his mind since March 7.

Last month, fans were shocked when they learned that Brad wouldn’t be wearing the Bruins’ black and golden sweater for the first time in his storied NHL career. It was later revealed that it was disagreements over salary that created a rift between the team and its long-time captain. However, being the sportsman that he is, Brad Marchand took what came his way and is now looking to be comfortable in his new shoes.

Brad Marchand tips his hat to his new squad

On April 11, the Panthers’ reporter Katie Engleson shared clips from Marchand’s first-ever post-game bench interview as a Florida star via a post on X. Captioned, “Brad Marchand did not disappoint,” the social media update revealed the 36-year-old’s feelings while getting used to his new surroundings. On being asked what makes the group special, Brad stated, “When you’re part of the locker room that we have, it doesn’t come often. And when you have been around for a while, you see how few opportunities you have to be part of it, of an incredible and special group. We have that right now,” underscoring that it’s only folly to be wasting such opportunities.

Marchand went on to hail his new teammates as incredible athletes with a burning desire to prove their worth to the NHL community. “You can tell the way they prepare every day, how they recover, how they take care of themselves. They’re in to win it, and it’s special to be a part of,” the Canadian national said with a beaming smile.

With his career in its final lap, many have speculated for quite some time on when Brad Marchand would decide to hang up his skates. As for where he wanted to retire, he had made it clear that his choice had always been Boston. “I’ve always planned on playing here [Boston Bruins] my entire career…that’s always been a goal,” Marchand had said back in February. That, of course, seems unlikely now. So now the question is: Can he make the best of the time on his hands playing for his former team’s biggest rivals?

How does the ‘Rat’ fit in with the Cats?

“His record speaks for itself. We’re thrilled to have him aboard. We’ll see where it goes,” the Panthers’ GM, Bill Zito, said in March when the Bruins proposed a trade deal for Brad Marchand. With Boston en route to finishing one of its worst-ever seasons in recent times, it’s only natural that Bruins fans weren’t happy with the decision to trade the team’s storied captain, but the Florida community isn’t too unhappy about it.

With 96 points, the Panthers have already secured their place in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, and Brad has contributed considerably in his short time there. With one goal and two assists, Marchand has made it clear that he will give his best, irrespective of what fate has in store for him. And given how his own style of play is in sync with how the Cats roll, chances are he is not going to struggle to keep up.

In an interview following the Panthers’ 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, Marchand almost felt sorry for his opponents. “It’s just such a hard game to play against the way that this team plays,” he said. Naturally, the interviewer felt compelled to ask about his thoughts on the physicality that the Panthers are known for. “It’s a very aggressive style,” answered the Little Ball of Hate, “I mean, that is, you know, kind of how I play.”

Do you think it’s a match made in heaven that both Brad Marchand and the Panthers will benefit from in the long run? Tell us your thoughts in a comment!