Brad Marchand Gets Emotional In Return to Boston

Brad Marchand lifts Stanley Cup with Florida Panthers

Brad Marchand was back on the ice at TD Garden in Boston on Monday for the first time since last season's trade, in a practice in advance of the Florida Panthers game against his old alma mater tomorrow night.

And just returning to the city is already bringing up some emotions for Marchand.

I kind of thought about it for the first time last night, being here, actually going to dinner and on the way over, I was kind of thinking about it and starting to get a little emotional. It kind of hits you when you’re here a little bit more.

And what'll it be like when he actually hits the ice for the game?

"It's going to be weird. I think there's going to be a lot of different emotions, even playing in the 4 Nations for Canada was different. There's a mix. A mix of emotions being on the other side of it. There's a lot that goes with the situation I'm in now. So yeah, a mix of nerves, mix of emotions, happy and sad."

Q: “If someone asked you — what’s the best thing about Boston, what would you say?”

Brad Marchand: “The fans.” pic.twitter.com/ev2KoclV33
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 20, 2025

“If someone asked you, what’s the best thing about Boston, what would you say?” he was asked.

“Fans, for sure,” Marchand said. “Hockey wise, the city’s incredible. …. The fans make it awesome, and they’re just very unique. Some of the stories and things that I’ve seen fans do — a lot of them aren’t PG-rated — in playoff runs and stuff like that.

"They bleed black and gold, and that’s part of why I think there’s so much pressure on the teams that have success, and why they focus on it so much. I mean, you can’t slip. You guys see it, you’re all here every day, and you don’t have the ability to slip in this city or you’re gonna hear about it. We wanted to produce and be good for the fans and live up to that reputation. So it makes it special to play here.”

Marchand was shockingly traded by the Bruins to the Florida Panthers at last season's deadline, and went on to help the Cats to their second straight Stanley Cup triumph. After a 17-year career in Beantown, all it took was three months in South Florida (and one of the most memorable Stanley Cup party tours of all-time) to convince Marchand to sign a six-year contract extension with the Panthers worth just under $32 million. That'll take him to age 43.

Now 37, he's still doing what he does, with six points in seven games this season, as Florida will try to snap a four-game losing streak in Boston on Tuesday.