Brad Marchand Gunning For First Cup In 14 Years – No Wonder He's With The Panthers

Brad Marchand is on the verge of making his debut with the Florida Panthers.

He practised again on Thursday and could suit up as soon as Friday against the Utah Hockey Club, according to The Hockey News’ David Dwork.

Marchand has an eight-team no-trade clause, but the reason the Boston Bruins traded their captain to the Panthers was clear – he wanted to go to Florida because of its status as a front-runner for the Stanley Cup. 

Despite Marchand’s experience winning a Cup with the Bruins, when you look back at his career, you see how long ago it was when he won it all and why winning another Cup is so important.

Boston’s last Cup win came in 2010-11, Marchand’s first full NHL season. During that playoff run, the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg. Boston drafted Dougie Hamilton after that, and superstars Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews were still years away from joining the league.

Marchand and the Bruins did make the Cup final again in 2012-13 and 2018-19, but since then, the team hasn’t gotten out of the second round. 

You can see, then, why Marchand wanted to play for a proven playoff threat like the Panthers if the Bruins wanted to trade him. He’s 36 years old right now, and like all players his age, his opportunities to win another Cup could be few and far between. Winning another Cup wasn’t going to happen with the subpar Bruins this year, and he likely has more appreciation of how much work goes into winning it all.

Marchand is a proven winner and needle-mover in the post-season, producing 82 assists and 138 points in 157 career playoff games. He had 10 points in 11 games last post-season. But you never know what fate the hockey gods will hand you. He needed to strike while the iron is hot.

Marchand could make a case for being a Hockey Hall of Famer. Winning another Cup – or two – would significantly improve his odds of being a Hall of Famer rather than being in the Hall of Very Good.

If this season ends with Marchand hoisting the Cup, you’d forgive him for either chasing the money this summer, returning to Boston or maybe going to play with Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh. If he doesn’t win, Cup front-runners should try to sign him in free agency.

As an accomplished veteran, Marchand has earned the right to call his own shot at this point in his career. So you can’t fault him for looking for a proven road to another Cup final appearance. Marchand is in it to win it, and that’s why he’s chosen the path he’s now on.

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