The Brad Marchand Period in Boston has come to a detailed.
The longtime Bruins ahead was despatched to the Panthers in a commerce deadline stunner that formally signaled Boston’s dedication to a rebuild — and helps the Panthers change Matthew Tkachuk.
Return for the longtime pest, at present week-to-week with an higher physique harm, was not instantly out there.
At 36, Marchand was the oldest member of the Bruins roster, having spent his whole 16-year NHL profession with the crew till Thursday afternoon.
A four-time All-Star and 2011 Stanley Cup winner, Marchand served as captain for a Boston franchise attempting to stay aggressive as its window shut.
His 21 targets ranked third on the crew, and his 47 factors had been second-highest for the Bruins.
An notorious agitator, the 5-foot-9 winger kicked his recreation up a notch within the postseason — two issues the Panthers will put to good use as they defend their Stanley Cup title.
Marchand’s addition will assist offset the lack of Tkachuk, the gritty heart-and-soul of the Panthers, whose regular-season ended early attributable to a groin harm suffered on the 4 Nations Face-off final month.
At 39-21-3 getting into Thursday’s slate, Florida is atop the Atlantic Division, whereas the Bruins, at 28-28-8, have seemingly referred to as it quits on any try to jockey for a wild card spot.
For the Bruins, the stunning transfer caps off a long-overdue organizational reset, postpone by years of huge trades and shocking regular-season success.
Early within the week, the Unique Six franchise dealt winger Trent Frederic to Edmonton and on Thursday, additionally despatched heart Charlie Coyle to the Avalanche and defenseman Brandon Carlo to the rival Maple Leafs.
