Brad Marchand’s trade from the Boston Bruins to the Florida Panthers is definitely one of the most surprising deals in the NHL. He really did spend 16 seasons with the Bruins, and it’s tough to see them having to trade their star player and captain. The team is gearing up for a rebuild after a disappointing 2024-25 season where they missed out on the postseason, finishing with a record of 33-39-10 and landing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
“You know, I’ve had an incredible run in that organization and I’m extremely proud. Just how things went there. Sorry. So, yeah, it was very disappointing that things didn’t get done just because, obviously, I love the organization,” Marchand said, getting a bit emotional as he showed up in his Panthers gear for the press conference.
At first, a lot of fans thought it was pretty strange. But now that they’ve seen Marchand flourish under Florida. Well, the forward’s stats really tell the story. So far in the postseason, Brad Marchand has racked up 3 goals, 9 assists, and a total of 12 points, really stepping up as a key player for the Panthers. It definitely took a bit for Marchand to find his groove.
So, Jameson Olive shared something interesting on X about the Panthers forward. He had a pretty honest take on his teammate, Niko Mikkola, saying, “I really did not like playing against him. … I love Mikksy. He’s a great teammate. Very fun to be around.” And now, what does he mean?
Marchand on Mikkola: “I really did not like playing against him. … I love Mikksy. He’s a great teammate. Very fun to be around.”
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) May 22, 2025
When Marchand and Mikkola were on opposite teams, they really had some intense battles. Back in March 2024, there was quite a scene when Marchand, who was playing for the Boston Bruins at the time, got into a bit of a scuffle with Mikkola. Even though Mikkola is 6’4″, the showdown really brought out the competitive vibe in their matchups. Things took a turn when Marchand got traded to the Panthers, just a year later. Looking back on this change, Marchand shared his relief and gratitude for being on the same side as Mikkola now.
This is a developing report…
The post Florida Locker Room Changed Brad Marchand’s Feelings About Ex-rival appeared first on EssentiallySports.
