Brad Marchand made his long-awaited debut for the Florida Panthers on Friday night, appearing in the first game of his NHL career for a team other than the Boston Bruins. Marchand was acquired from Boston at the NHL trade deadline on March 7, 2025, but he had been recovering from an upper-body injury, delaying his first appearance in a Panthers jersey.
After spending an impressive 16 years with the Bruins, where he served as captain for the last two seasons, Marchand's transition to Florida marks a significant change for both him and the fans. The Bruins received a conditional second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Marchand, which could become a first-round pick if the Panthers reach the Eastern Conference Finals and Marchand plays in at least half of their playoff games.
In his debut, Marchand skated alongside Sam Bennett and rookie Mackie Samoskevich as the Panthers hosted the Utah Hockey Club at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers pulled out a thrilling 2-1 win in overtime, with Marchand providing the primary assist on the game-winning goal scored by Bennett.
“AN OT WINNER FOR THE BUDDIES and Marchy's first point as a Cat!!!” the Florida Panthers tweeted, celebrating the moment. Marchand's contribution in overtime was pivotal, and it was a moment he had been eagerly anticipating. “It would’ve been great to be able to stay and play out my career [in Boston], but this is an incredible opportunity and one that I’m really excited about,” Marchand shared shortly after his trade. “I feel rejuvenated coming here. They’re completely different mindsets from where we were as a team and the things we were going through. Now, coming in and seeing the path that these guys are on and the way that they’re preparing for the playoffs and the way their preparation starts in the mornings and the way they deal with things, it’s exciting.”
The game itself started slowly, with both teams combining for only 11 shots on goal during the first period. However, the second period saw Florida take control. Just 2:28 into the period, Sam Bennett opened the scoring with a goal set up by Sasha Barkov, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Bennett's goal was his sixth in the last nine games, showcasing his consistent performance.
Utah managed to tie the game early in the third period when Sean Durzi scored on a 2-on-1 break, leveling the score at 1-1. The Panthers' defense, however, held strong, successfully killing off all four of Utah's power plays throughout the game, including a crucial one late in the third period where they allowed no shots on goal.
As the game moved into overtime, the Panthers dominated possession, but it took nearly the entire five minutes for them to find the back of the net. With just 41.1 seconds left in the extra session, Marchand found Bennett at the side of the goal crease, and Bennett netted his second goal of the game, sealing the victory for Florida.
This win was particularly important for the Panthers, as it pushed them back into first place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 44-25-3 and 91 points, just ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, both of whom have 10 games remaining in the regular season.
“He has been in big situations and everyone respects him,” said Florida’s A.J. Greer, who played alongside Marchand during the 2022-23 season with the Bruins. “He is really acclimated to the kind of game we play, so for us, we’re just going to let him do his thing. We know he is going to have success here. He is built for what we have, he is built for the game that we play.”
The Panthers paid tribute to Utah forward Kevin Stenlund during the first period, honoring him as a returning player who left Florida after winning last year's Stanley Cup. Stenlund received a video tribute and an ovation from the crowd, acknowledging the moment with a wave.
As Florida prepares for their next matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, March 30, 2025, Marchand's debut and the Panthers' continued success will be key focal points. The Canadiens currently lead the season series 2-0, and Florida will be looking to even the score as they continue their push for the playoffs.
With Marchand now in the lineup, the Panthers are hoping to build on their momentum and solidify their position in the standings as they approach the postseason. The atmosphere in Sunrise was electric, and fans are eager to see how Marchand will continue to impact the team moving forward.
