“It kind of hit like a ton of bricks.” | Brad Marchand Postgame Reaction at Boston 10.21.25

“It kind of hit like a ton of bricks.” | Brad Marchand Postgame Reaction at Boston 10.21.25

you know, I I knew it was going to hit me the way the way it did. Um it it was extremely touching. Um I’m so grateful for, you know, the moment and um very appreciative for it, for you know, what the Bruins did to kind of put that together and the love and the support the the fans have showed me. um not just tonight, but you know, through my entire career here and and uh you know, I I you know, I I always loved um playing here and and loved putting the jersey on and wearing my heart on my sleeve. Uh you know, so I I think you know, they this is a hardworking city and and people appreciate that. So I uh yeah, I love the fans here. They’re they’re special. They’re an incredible group. Um, you know, I was kind of laughing later in the game because I think I got booed there at one point and it’s just, you know, I knew it wouldn’t take long, but um, yeah, no, it was a a very, very special night uh, for myself and my family. What were you thinking and feeling in that moment? I was trying not to cry. Um, that was what I was trying to do. And then, you know, as soon as I saw my kids on the screen, um, you know, it kind of hit like a ton of bricks and, you know, I I just the memories and, you know, the emotions of everything, just the years and the years and the, you know, the incredible times and, um, it just kind of come pouring into your memory and it it’s just crazy to see. You know, there’s a lot of things that I forget and um, the years all kind of bunched together. Uh, this the careers go by fast. you know, it doesn’t matter how long you’re in, it goes by extremely fast. And to see, you know, snapshot of that in uh, you know, a clip like that, um, it just it brings everything back and just the amount of pride, like I said, that that I had that I have that I that I played here and was part of this organization. Um, you know, I just I I just couldn’t hold it in, you know, so it uh it meant a lot. I want to talk about what Bruins fans from all over New England mean to you and have meant to you over the course of your career. Yeah, you know, I I I’ve always really really love them. Um, you know, I said it, they’re they’re hardworking people. They I love how much they care about the team here. They you know, I said it the other day to somebody, but they like they want to win as as much or more than we want to win. like they, you know, if we lose a game, like they’ll go to the work piss the next day, you know, like they just, you know, they they love the team. They bleed black and gold. And um, you know, I I I built such a great relationship with the fans. Like, I always really appreciate it. And Ray Bour said it to me uh when I was 19. and I had dinner with him one night and he just said like you need to embrace every person that you come across every fan because you know when you’re when you’re done down the road like they just you know they move on and and they care about the next guys that come in and you know they kind of forget about you and I that always stuck in my mind um you know so I always loved interacting with fans always really appreciated the support and it meant more to me the the older I got and the longer I played because I you know you want to play in the NHL but like you don’t really ever expect to and then I had a stint that I kind of came back from I played 20 games. I was like, you know, this might never happen again. So to go from that to, you know, coming in here and and getting the support and and the love from the fans um throughout my time here and it was just it meant so much to me and I and I appreciate it. I remember the first time I ever saw my jersey around town and um you know and and then it was like a year or two later and they were everywhere. just it was just something that I never thought uh was going to happen. So, it was pretty cool. Brad, you mentioned Ry and he people didn’t forget him and he is still part of this even after he left to do exactly what you did. Could you see yourself 10 years whatever down the road whenever the wheels do fall off? Could you see yourself being skating on the alumni team someday? I think it’s going to be 10. I’m trying to give you I’m trying to I appreciate that. That was nice. People give me like one or two, you know. So, I appreciate that. Could you see yourself being part of this in some capacity, whether it’s just just ceremonial and still still being around? Is is that something given especially the way you received tonight? Could you see that? Yeah. You know, if I’m if I’m being completely honest, absolutely. you know, it’s uh um a place that uh I it’s an organization I feel like I’ll always be part of in in some capacity down the road. Um you know, and and I’m sure you know like me and some of the guys will have some conversation and B&Z and you know, Duke’s great or whoever wants to jump in and you know, we’ll we’ll uh all come back together or something, you know. Um, but yeah, that’s that’s again like just what I’ve been through here and and um, you know, just the blood, sweat, and tears and uh, you know, what I felt like I tried to give to this organization. Um, be hard not to, you know, want to be involved in other way. You just, you’re just so deeply rooted and you’ve cared so long um, to bring success here. It’d be it’d be hard not to be part of it. Obviously said interview said he’ll always be a hard. Yeah. Do you think that’s fair? Yeah, absolutely. you know, this is the the part the part that’s been tough about this, to be honest, is coming back is that uh you know, I I don’t want to disrespect the team that I’m on in any type of capacity because, you know, I I left and I turned the page and um you know, and and and I found something truly special again that I’m very very proud and blessed to be part of and I chose to be part of again, you know, and And you know, when when Bill came to me and and wanted to resign me, it was it was an automatic yes. And and um and I’m so grateful to be in this dressing room with this group of guys and and I built something really special with every guy in this team last year with winning. You just you build a bond that will last a lifetime. Uh and it’s an unbelievable room. So I I you know I I’ve tried not to show any disrespect in that way as if I’m not very grateful to be here because I am. Um, but I was there for I’ve been here for 7 months. I’ve been in Boston for 15 years. So, you know, when you go from being a kid um with the with the dream and then, you know, you you you know, you you grow up and you have a family and become a man and and you build an entire life in in the city. It’s just different, you know, and it just of course it’ll always, you know, it’ll always be in my heart. It always be a special place. Um, but again, you know, with the the I’m I’m on to a new chapter and it’s one I’m gonna make the most of because my career is going to end at some point and and uh I I always try to be grateful for the moment and not waste a day. But yeah, Bruins will always hold a very very dear place in my heart.

Former Bruins captain Brad Marchand speaks with media following his first game back in Boston with the Florida Panthers on October 21, 2025.

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