“I haven’t even spoken to him yet; we just did the trade call. His record speaks for itself.” This was what Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito said on March 7, 2025, just moments after acquiring Brad Marchand in a blockbuster move. Florida knew exactly what and who they were getting. Marchand’s arrival was expected to inject grit, leadership, and postseason pedigree into an already talented roster. But at the other end of the trade, emotions ran high in the Boston Bruins locker room.
Marchand, who had spent all 16 seasons in black and gold, was more than just a captain. Memories of the 2011 Stanley Cup run might have surely flooded the room when Marchand got traded on March 7. The departure marked the end of an era for the Bruins. The fever of Marchand’s absence in the Bruins locker room is still gripping the NHL world.
On the latest episode of The Hockey Hub on July 30, podcasters Adam Pellerin and Sophia Jurksztowicz talked to the recent addition to the Bruins’ roster, Sean Kuraly. Adam began, “Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak set to wear the A again this upcoming season. And the question is going into the year, whether or not there’ll be a captain, right? And obviously, Brad Marchand was the team captain before that.” He also added, “It’s been a while since the Bruins have had a captain. So, Conroy got to talk to Charlie McAvoy. McAvoy basically said, ‘You know, going into the year they’re both going to have him and David Pastrnak.’”
After trading Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers in March, the Boston Bruins closed out the 2025 season without a captain—no player wore the ‘C’ on their sweater. With Marchand gone, the team has entered a transitional phase, exploring various leadership strategies, some of which may be unconventional.
NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA Stanley Cup Final-Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers Jun 6, 2025 Edmonton, Alberta, CAN Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand 63 reacts after scoring a goal on Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner 74 during the second period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Edmonton Rogers Place Alberta CAN, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xWalterxTychnowiczx 20250606_mcd_tb1_80
In a recent interview with Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy shared an important update: the Bruins will once again forgo naming a captain this upcoming season. Instead, McAvoy and star winger David Pastrnak will share leadership duties as alternate captains. The decision appears to reflect a thoughtful approach in the aftermath of Marchand’s emotional departure.
“Going into this year, we’re both going to have A’s. That’s what I know. I don’t think there’s any fire under them to do anything with that. And guess what? That’s totally fine,” said McAvoy. He added, “Me and Pasta are spending the time together, which I’ve found incredible—learning about him a little bit more, about him as a leader.”
According to Sports Illustrated, the Bruins are likely leaning toward a leadership-by-committee approach for now. This decision not only keeps speculation alive about the future captain but also signals a more collective mindset for the organization moving forward.
Moving on from Brad Marchand, Sean Kuraly is ready for the Bruins’ upcoming season
While the Bruins may be navigating uncertain waters without a captain, there’s a bright spot in the return of 32-year-old forward Sean Kuraly. The veteran signed a two-year deal with the team, bringing grit, leadership, and a sense of familiarity to the bottom-six forward group.
Kuraly spent the last four seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets but began his NHL career in Boston, where he played his first five seasons. His return, reported first by Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff and confirmed by 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Ty Anderson, is a homecoming of sorts. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $1.85 million.
Credit: IG/Sean Kuraly
Speaking about his return, Kuraly said, “Boston, I’ve always had a soft spot for the city, the organization, the team. When we heard from them, it was definitely a spot where I could see myself and wanted to end up.”
He continued, “I think conversations through my agent and through Sweens [GM Don Sweeney] and from the organization were about wanting guys that were gonna compete and be there every day and practice hard and do all that sort of stuff. With a lot of opportunity and getting back to some of the things that the Bruins have done in past years to be successful, and joining some of the awesome pieces that are already on the team, it was a pretty easy sell for me. I was really excited to get that phone call.”
Kuraly also took a moment to thank his former teammates in Columbus, expressing gratitude for their support and camaraderie over the past four seasons. He acknowledged that returning to Boston will feel different—especially without the presence of longtime captain Brad Marchand—but he’s excited for the challenge ahead.
As the Bruins embark on a new chapter without a clear-cut captain, they’ll be leaning on familiar faces like McAvoy, Pastrnak, and now Kuraly to help guide the locker room. Whether this shared leadership model becomes a long-term solution remains to be seen—but for now, it marks the beginning of a new identity for the Black and Gold.
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