Marchand reflects on missed opportunities with Bruins, understands being traded

When you play 16 seasons in the NHL and make the playoffs in 12 of them, winning begins to feel like second nature.

But when that all culminates with only one successful run to the Cup, it’s probably a bit hard not to look back with some regret, wondering about what-ifs and those that got away.

Such was the case for Brad Marchand, who took the time on Tuesday to look back on his storied career donning the “B,” as his new team, the Florida Panthers, geared up for a game against his former and beloved one, the Boston Bruins.

“I think, for me, my biggest thing is when I look at the situation, we were an incredible team for a very long period of time,” Marchand told reporters, when asked about what he’d say to any Bruins fans who are upset about the trade. “Maybe we haven’t achieved everything that we wanted to throughout that time, but you give up a lot in those runs … and it gets to a point where it catches up to you. But the job and the will to win is there every single year.”

He praised the Bruins’ management and ownership, talking about how they always put the team in a great position to succeed — apparent by the string of eight consecutive playoff appearances from the 2016-17 season to last year.

But as it stands this season, that streak seems destined to be broken after the Bruins opted to sell in a big way at the deadline. Boston is 29-28-8, four points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final wild-card spot in the East, and is sitting seventh in the East.

Marchand understands that the team’s window for contention had been cranked open in recent years — whether it be their Cup run in 2019, when the Bruins ultimately lost to the St. Louis Blues, or in 2023 when they lost to the Panthers in the first round, despite winning the Presidents’ Trophy — but that the core’s potential was ultimately “maxed out.”

“We had our opportunity a couple years ago and fell short,” Marchand said, when looking back on the 2023 series against the Panthers. “We definitely dropped the ball on that one, that was our year and they went all-in in years leading up to that season, and when you look at an opportunity like that, it doesn’t come along very often. They did everything they could to put us in a position to succeed. And ultimately, as players, we didn’t do our jobs and didn’t come through when we had to.”

The way Marchand sees it, the Bruins made the decision to trade the forward because of their commitment to winning and culture — that tough decisions have to be made for the sake of the franchise and for the sake of winning titles.

“They’re the best in the world at what they do and they’re extremely committed to winning, and that never gets lost on me,” Marchand said about the Bruins’ front office and organization. “I want to win and I’m a competitor, and the guys in that office are competitors. They want to win and they’re not gonna go down a path of building losing teams. So they’re doing what they feel is right to build for a bright future when they have a young core, and you can’t get upset about those things.”

He also expanded on the fact that the Bruins did give him an opportunity to extend with the team but likely fell short of what Marchand had hoped for financially.

At the end of the day, Marchand made it clear that he expresses no ill will for the Bruins, and that while he leaves Boston with some regrets — be it not having the opportunity to play out his career there or not reaching the summit more than once — he’ll never regret the time he spent there.

“Yeah, I would’ve loved it and it would’ve been incredible to have that fairytale ending, but they’re doing what’s right for the guys in the room,” the former Bruins captain said. “They can’t choose one guy over the 20 guys, and frankly, the millions of people that support the team.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the management and the ownership and everybody involved in this organization. That’s why you wanna come here, cause they just wanna win and they’ll do what it takes, and they’re OK to make tough decisions if that’s what it means, that’s their job.”

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Though Marchand won’t get to take the ice in his new sweater, his Florida Panthers visit Boston to take on the Bruins on Tuesday night, in a showing that will likely be emotional for the crowd at TD Garden and one former Bruin in particular.

Catch the action on Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

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