The Boston Bruins made several moves leading up to the March 7 NHL trade deadline, but none were bigger than the Original Six club dealing former captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers. The 36-year-old played 16 incredible seasons with the Bruins and will forever go down as one of their best players in franchise history.
On March 10, Marchand sent a goodbye message to Bruins fans through The Boston Globe.
Here is Marchand's full goodbye message to Boston:
"To Boston,
Thank you for welcoming me into this great city when I was just a young Canadian kid looking to break it into the best league in the world. You allowed me to achieve my dream of playing in the National Hockey League and winning the Stanley Cup. For this I am forever grateful. You also embraced me from day one and immediately brought me into your family. Since that time, I have become a husband and a father to a beautiful family. My family is your family: we are Bostonians now and forever.
Representing this city as captain of the Boston Bruins was the greatest honor of my life, and it was a privilege to wear the spoked b over the past 16 years. Boston will always be a part of me, and it will always be a part of my family. There are far too many people I want to thank to be able to include in this short note, but just know how grateful I am for the time I spent in Boston playing for the Bruins.
Thank you."
In 1,090 career games over 16 NHL seasons as a Bruin, Marchand had 422 goals, 976 points, and a plus-284 rating. The superstar forward remained one of Boston's best players up until this trade, posting 21 goals and 47 points in 61 games this season.
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