Brad Marchand will face his former Boston Bruins team for the first time as a Florida Panther on Tuesday at TD Garden. The 37-year-old forward, traded to Florida in March 2025, expects a mix of nerves and emotions in the matchup. This homecoming adds to a storied list of notable NHL returns.
Brad Marchand, who spent 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins, is set to play his first game against his former team since being traded to the Florida Panthers on March 7, 2025, at the NHL Trade Deadline. The game, scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden (ESPN, SN360, TVAS), marks the end of the Panthers' five-game road trip. Marchand, now 37 and from Halifax, Nova Scotia, was drafted by Boston in the third round (No. 71) of the 2006 NHL Draft and debuted in 2009. Over 1,090 regular-season games with the Bruins, he amassed 976 points (422 goals, 554 assists), plus 157 playoff appearances. He captained the team and won the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Since joining Florida, Marchand has thrived, contributing four points (two goals, two assists) in 10 games at the end of the 2024-25 season and six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games this season. He signed a six-year, $31.5 million contract with the Panthers on July 1, 2025, after helping them win the Stanley Cup in June with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 23 playoff games. This marks his second Cup, and the Panthers are now two-time defending champions.
Marchand spoke to NHL.com from Detroit about the upcoming game, admitting, "I've never been one to look ahead at games... I think it'll kind of hit home a little bit more then." He anticipates mixed feelings: "It's going to be weird. I think there's going to be a lot of different emotions... a mix of nerves, mix of emotions, happy and sad." He returned to TD Garden four days after the trade but was injured and did not play. This will be Florida's only visit to Boston this season.
Former teammates praised his impact. Patrice Bergeron said, "The work ethic for Brad was incredible... he's always the one that would create a spark." Nick Foligno called him "the engine of the team." Marchand's return joins historic NHL homecomings, like Phil Esposito's 1975 game in Boston or Wayne Gretzky's 1988 return to Edmonton, highlighting emotional milestones in league history.
Key Context
- Bruins' 2022-23 season: NHL-record 135 points, 65 wins.
- Marchand's Bruins playoff highlight: Near game-winner in 2023 first-round loss to Panthers.
The matchup underscores Marchand's legacy in Boston, where he built deep personal ties, while embracing his new role in Florida.