Panthers Captain Admits To ‘Weird’ Vibe After Bruins’ Brad Marchand Trade

The Bruins will need to get used to a new atmosphere without Brad Marchand, and his new team also needed time to adjust, too.

Boston made five franchise-altering moves before Friday’s NHL trade deadline. Brad Marchand’s trade to the Florida Panthers highlighted a new direction for the franchise that enters a new era.

When Marchand’s nameplate was in the Panthers locker room at Amerant Bank Arena, which is something Aleksander Barkov and his teammates will have to get used to.

“Kind of weird, for now,” Barkov told reporters Saturday, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

Marchand and the Bruins had memorable battles in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Of course, there was the infamous Sam Bennett punch on Marchand in Game 3 of the second round last year. But the sucker punch came because Florida knows very well what kind of competitor the former Bruins captain is.

“He’s a winner,” Barkov said. “He won the Stanley Cup with Boston and every year he’s been part of really good teams. He has that experience of playing meaningful games. Everyone knows what kind of player and human he is, so excited to have him on our side — for once.”

Marchand will have familiar faces in the Panthers locker room. He was on the same line as the aforementioned Bennett with Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He’ll also have fellow Canadian Sam Reinhart on the team, as well as former Boston forward A.J. Greer to help ease him in.

The Panthers and Bruins play at TD Garden next Tuesday. However, Marchand’s continued injury absence is expected to resume until the Stanley Cup playoffs.