Brad Marchand reveals he almost joined another Bruins rival

It was already painful sufficient for some Bruins followers to observe former captain Brad Marchand lift the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in June. 

However, the Bruins legend revealed on Tuesday that he additionally thought-about becoming a member of one other rival of Boston’s this previous offseason earlier than ultimately re-upping with Florida. 

“It was between Florida and Toronto of the place I used to be going to go,” Marchand instructed reporters, including The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, on Tuesday earlier than a matchup with the Panthers. “I imply, in the end, I by no means even thought it was even potential to re-sign in Florida. I actually didn’t. Simply with the blokes that we had up and stuff like that. 

“Toronto, I used to be severe about what I mentioned, with the place they’re at. As a bunch, the best way that they’re competing now — they compete the fitting approach, which is what they form of needed to recover from that hurdle.” 

The 37-year-old Marchand ultimately re-upped with the Panthers on a six-year contract with Florida earlier than hitting free company. 

Whereas Marchand’s feedback could possibly be interpreted as one other signature trolling alternative for the long-time Leafs antagonist, Johnston famous that there was “ respectable smoke round the potential for him leaping to the Leafs on July 1.”

“League sources accustomed to the state of affairs say that Toronto even handed on the potential for buying one other participant in a June commerce with a purpose to defend the cap house that might have been wanted to herald Marchand,” Johnston wrote.

“They have been able to be aggressive if the 37-year-old winger hit the open market coming off a playoffs wherein he completed second in Conn Smythe Trophy voting and was a part of a workforce that knocked the Leafs out of the playoffs for the fifth time in his profession.”

Despite the fact that Marchand reportedly had curiosity in becoming a member of Toronto, he did handle to twist the knife in opposition to the Leafs amid their up-and-down season. 

“It’s unlucky the followers ran [Mitch] Marner out of city,” Marchand mentioned, referring to Marner’s exit this offseason earlier than becoming a member of the Vegas Golden Knights. “That’s a huge effect on their group. He’s a point-a-game participant. Like, that hurts.”

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author masking the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Purple Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.