When acquisitions are made specifically to help the team either get to the Stanley Cup playoffs or help a team go deep in the postseason, the move does not always work out.
That cannot be said when it comes to the Florida Panthers and Brad Marchand. On March 7, the Panthers acquired Marchand, 37, from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a conditional second-round selection in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.
To say the deal has worked out splendidly for the Panthers would be an understatement. With the team one win away from securing their second straight Cup (As of Monday, June 16), Marchand has been a big part of the reason why the Panthers are so close to sipping out of Lord Stanley’s Cup.
For starters, he has been a goal-scoring machine. Marchand currently (As of Monday, June 16) has 10 goals in this year’s playoffs, which is tied for third in the league with Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry.
Not only is he putting the puck in the net on a consistent basis, but he is scoring at crucial times in the game. Marchand currently (As of Monday, June 16) has three game-winning goals, which puts him tied for second in the league with teammate Carter Verhaeghe.
He scored two big goals, both of them highlight-reel tucks, against the Oilers in Game 5 on Saturday night, June 14. On both of those goals, he used his speed, patience, great shot, and terrific puck handling ability to shield off the opposition and then put the puck past Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard.
Brad Marchand’s linemate, Anton Lundell, told George Richards of Florida Hockey Now that he could not believe what he saw on Marchand’s goals.
“We have some plays, but that was all Marchy’s play,’’ Lundell said. “He took the puck and did a really highlight goal. Those are the goals you look at YouTube as a kid, and try and to go out and practice yourself. But we’re all pretty amazed by him.”
In the same article linked above, Sam Bennett, another Panther forward who is having a terrific postseason for his hockey club, told Richards that he was also stunned by Marchand’s two unbelievable goals.
“They’re both unbelievable,’’ said Sam Bennett, who scored his 15th of the playoffs in the first for a 2-0 lead, “but that second one, I don’t know how he did that. We’re going to have to watch that clip a couple times and ask him to teach me something.”
Marchand is also producing in general for the Panthers in these playoffs. He is currently (As of Monday, June 16) third on the team in scoring with 20 points on 10 goals and 10 assists.
Lastly, Marchand is playing like a man on a mission. He has not won a Cup since 2011, and after losing in the Final to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and then to the St. Louis Blues in 2019, one knows that he wants to win another one before he hangs up the skates.
Marchand has done it all for the Panthers this postseason. Winning the Cup and maybe even the Conn Smythe Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in the playoffs would certainly be the right rewards for all of his contributions.
Season 4. Episode 38. B.C. Bruins – Bruins Benders Podcast
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