Brad Marchand choked up as he spoke to the media for the first time since his startling trade from the Boston Bruins to a top rival team. After spending his entire 16-year career in Boston, the Bruins veteran acknowledged he was surprised when contract discussions failed and the team decided to move on. “I’ve had an incredible run in that organization, and I’m extremely proud of how things went there,” he added, his voice breaking. “It was very disappointing that things didn’t get done just because, obviously, I love the organization, I wanted to stay there.”
The talented star and the Bruins had agreed on a three-year contract extension prior to the trade deadline, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the two sides were too far apart in terms of salary.
Friedman stated that the talented star wanted a face-to-face meeting with Bruins management to try to bridge the divide, offering to compromise, but Boston maintained its stance.
“It just didn’t happen,” Friedman explained. “I think it really hurt him that the face-to-face meeting couldn’t get a deal done.”
Realizing his time in Boston was gone, the star requested a trade to the Florida Panthers, who had eliminated the Bruins in each of the previous two postseasons and are preparing for another Stanley Cup push after winning it last season.
The talented star is none other than Captain Brad Marchand, he said.
“When the trade happened, like I said, I was disappointed and I was sad,” Marchand explained. “But I’m still extremely grateful that I get to come to an incredible place, an incredible team, a very, very, very competitive team.”
“I feel rejuvenated coming here.”
Marchand, who is rehabilitating from an upper-body ailment, will have to wait approximately two weeks before making his Panthers debut.
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