SHOCKING Last Minute Trade: Bruins' Brad Marchand Heading to Florida Panthers

The Boston Bruins are striking a stunning deal to send captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, in a shocking last-minute deal.

#FlaPanthers have agreed to a trade with #NHLBruins to acquire Brad Marchand. They're in the trade call queue.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 7, 2025

The defending Stanley Cup champions have made themselves, unquestionably, the team to beat as they go for back-to-back titles.

Marchand is currently out "week to week" with an injury, but he's expected back in time for the playoffs, which is, of course, all the Panthers would need him for. He'll join his new teammate Matthew Tkachuk at that time, also likely out for the remainder of the regular season, as perhaps the best duo to be inserted for a team's playoff roster ever seen.

They’re gonna be best friends now aren’t they pic.twitter.com/Fp9s36hTD9
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) March 7, 2025

The Panthers get a conditional pick in return: A second-rounder that will become a 2027 or 2028 first-round pick if Florida wins two rounds of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs AND Marchand appears in at least 50% of the team’s playoff games.

Florida also retains 50% of Marchand's $6.125M cap hit.

Marchand, 36, is a pending UFA, and was thought to be a lifetime Bruin, but he will now get a shot at another Cup, after winning one with Boston in his second NHL season back in 2011.

He just registered his 12th consecutive 20-goal season, sitting now with 21 and 47 points in 61 games.

While trading him within the division would seem like a strange move for the Bruins, it's obvious at this point that they have no intention of making the playoffs, so will likely not have to face Marchand in another uniform. There's every chance that he re-signs with Boston in the summer.

The Panthers also added defenseman Seth Jones last week, backup goalie Vitek Vanecek earlier this week, and center Nico Sturm on deadline day.