Panthers acquire forward Brad Marchand from Bruins

It’s the end of an era in Boston.

The Bruins traded franchise icon Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers in a last-minute deal before Friday’s deadline, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports.

The return heading back to Boston was not immediately known.

Marchand, 36, has spent all 16 years of his big-league career with the Bruins, debuting with the franchise back in 2009. Peaking with five seasons of 80-plus points between 2016 and 2022, Marchand’s best came in 2018-19, when he amassed 36 goals and 100 points for the B’s.

He has 21 goals and 47 points through 61 games for Boston this season, and suited up for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off as well. On Tuesday, it was announced that Marchand would be out on a week-to-week basis, sidelined with an upper-body injury.

Even so, a disappointing campaign in Boston — which has the Bruins currently sitting on the outside of the East’s playoff picture — led to the B’s parting ways with their captain. Key to that decision was the fact that Marchand is headed towards free agency, the veteran playing out the final year of the eight-year, $49-million deal he signed back in 2016.

For Florida, the move solidifies the all-in approach that the Panthers brass has made clear over the past few seasons, starting with the blockbuster that brought Matthew Tkachuk to Sunrise. With Marchand joining Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, the Panthers now boast a roster stocked with plenty of formidable grinders, who can chip in with elite offence, too.

It was a late-season injury to Tkachuk that allowed Panthers GM Bill Zito to swing big again at the deadline. The American winger sustained a groin injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off, and on Sunday, it was announced that he would be out for the remainder of the regular season — with Tkachuk’s hefty $9.5-million cap hit moved to long-term injured reserve, the Cats were granted enough space to bring in another impact player for their post-season run.

The trade brings to a close a sterling era in Boston, which saw Zdeno Chara leave the club in 2020 and Patrice Bergeron hang up his skates in 2023. Marchand, who took over the captaincy from his longtime linemate Bergeron two years ago, now moves on, too.

Originally selected in the third round of the 2006 NHL Draft by Boston, Marchand went on to play over 1,000 regular-season games with the Bruins, compiling nearly 1,000 points and helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2011 while reaching the Final two other times.

The Halifax product added another 56 goals and 82 assists in 157 career playoff contests. He became known for his unmatched ability to get under opponents’ skin, before adding in a knack for elite scoring later in his career.

Now, he’ll bring his extensive post-season experience and trademark peskiness to the Panthers as they continue their hunt for another Stanley Cup.