Western Conference Playoff Team Pursued Brad Marchand Before Panthers-Bruins Trade

It’s been two months since Brad Marchand was traded from the Boston Bruins to the Florida Panthers at the buzzer of the NHL trade deadline.

The move shocked many fans, as it came at the last second and marked the end of Marchand’s 15-and-a-half-year career in Boston.

At 36 years old and approaching free agency, Marchand and the Bruins were unable to reach a contract extension, setting the stage for the deal.

Now, with his Boston chapter behind him, Marchand is focused on helping the Panthers capture a second straight Stanley Cup. Florida eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games and is currently in the midst of a second-round series with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Meanwhile, on the latest episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast,” Sportsnet NHL reporter Elliotte Friedman revealed that another team besides Florida had shown interest in acquiring Marchand before the trade went down.

That team was the Los Angeles Kings, who were eliminated in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers for the fourth straight season—this time in six games after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead.

“One thing I did hear on Tuesday was that I think the Kings were one of the teams that took a real run at Brad Marchand,” Friedman said. “And, you know, Marchand wanted to go to Florida and ended up in Florida. But I think they were one of the teams during the season that tried to get him.”

Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63).© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Kings and longtime general manager Rob Blake officially parted ways on Monday after eight seasons. It’s clear Blake remained active at the trade deadline, given his pursuit of Marchand and his acquisition of Andrei Kuzmenko from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Beyond this run with the Panthers, Marchand’s future remains uncertain. Back in March, ESPN broadcaster John Buccigross predicted that the former Bruin would sign with the Montreal Canadiens this summer.

“I think he wants to stay in the northeast,” Buccigross said on the “Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast.” “So I’ll go Montreal-Marchand. Go off the board a little bit there. Short flight to Boston if the family stays in Boston, 40-minute flight, and come home on weekends.”

Western Conference Playoff Team Pursued Brad Marchand Before Panthers-Bruins Trade

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