Brad Marchand is back in Boston—but this time, it’s different. The former Bruins captain, now a Florida Panther, was spotted taking the ice at TD Garden for the first time since his shocking trade. And here’s the kicker—despite being ruled week-to-week with an upper-body injury, Marchand was fully suited up and skating with Florida’s top line alongside Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. But will he feature in the game?
The news from the practice session was enough to send shockwaves through Bruins fans, who were already emotional about seeing Marchand in different colors. Just days ago, he spoke openly about how disappointed he was that a contract extension never materialized, admitting he had hoped to stay with the Bruins. Yet, there he was—gliding around the ice, looking sharp in a regular (non-contact) jersey instead of skating solo or rehabbing off to the side.
So, does this mean he’s playing tonight? Panthers head coach Paul Maurice had originally shut down the idea, saying Marchand would need time before making his debut. But with Marchand looking comfortable on the ice and even practicing with the team’s top unit, speculation is through the roof. Could we be in for a surprise? The mystery surrounding Marchand’s first game in a Panthers jersey just got a lot more interesting.
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