Former Bruins captain Brad Marchand reacts to missing playoffs

In a considerably unpredictable flip of occasions — particularly for Bruins followers circa 2022 and prior — Brad Marchand can be watching the NHL playoffs from residence, whereas the Bruins are within the postseason.

Marchand’s Florida Panthers missed the playoffs this yr, and Boston rebounded from final season to earn a wild-card spot in 2025-26.

The Bruins traded Marchand to Florida eventually yr’s commerce deadline after it grew to become clear the staff was not in critical playoff competition, and Marchand promptly gained a Stanley Cup consequently. He then re-signed with the Panthers this offseason, however with out the identical fortune.

Talking to reporters, Marchand gave his ideas on lacking the postseason.

“On the finish of the day, what’s the distinction? Dropping within the finals and never making the playoffs,” Marchand stated. “You don’t win. There’s one winner and everybody else is a loser. … This provides us extra time to arrange for subsequent yr and turn out to be a fair higher staff.”

As a veteran with loads of playoff expertise, it is smart for Marchand to have a “championship or bust” mindset. Nonetheless, present Bruin Nikita Zadorov disagreed with Marchand’s stance on lacking the playoffs.

“That’s why I’m enjoying hockey,” Zadorov informed reporters. “I don’t wish to go on the market, play 82 video games and never make the playoffs. I believe that’s a waste of a yr for me, you understand what I imply? You wish to be enjoying these video games.”

Zadorov has a number of playoff appearances beneath his belt already, most lately with the Canucks in 2023-24. He’ll make his Bruins playoff debut Sunday towards the Buffalo Sabres.

The towering Boston defenseman is actually desperate to take his hard-hitting play model into Buffalo, and look to upset the younger Sabres staff that simply ended a 14-year playoff drought this season.

Zadorov and the Bruins face off with the Sabres at 7 p.m. Sunday for Sport 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Boston is looking for its first Stanley Cup Finals look since 2019, and its first championship since 2011, the squad that included a younger Marchand.