Panthers GM Makes Admission About Brad Marchand Trade With Bruins

The Bruins and the Panthers barely beat the horn last Friday.

Boston and Florida teamed up for arguably the most noteworthy deal last week, and it was made right before the NHL trade deadline passed. The Bruins sent shockwaves across the hockey world when they traded Brad Marchand to the Panthers, who bounced the B’s from the playoffs in both of the last two seasons.

Bill Zito spoke about the Marchand trade Sunday on TNT, and the Florida general manager admitted there was a moment when he wasn’t completely sure his club beat the deadline.

“We got it in a few minutes ahead of time,” Zito said. “You get an e-mail receipt back. There was maybe a moment or two there where it was like, ‘Did it go through?’ Those types of things. But it was fine. Once we got our receipt, we knew we were OK.”

Marchand reportedly became intrigued about the idea of playing for the Panthers once he realized his Bruins tenure was ending. The star forward reportedly admired the commitment to winning in Florida, where a pair of his former linemates — Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell — work for the team.

It remains to be seen when Marchand will be fully healed from his upper-body injury and can suit up for the Panthers. But when he does, he only will help Florida’s mission to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.