"Sixteen years to the day after Brad Marchand made his NHL debut with the Bruins at TD Garden, the 37-year-old veteran returned to Causeway Street - albeit in a different sweater this time around. For the first time in his NHL career, Marchand took the ice at Boston's home barn in an opposing sweater - skating against his longtime team as a member of the Florida Panthers."
"The 2011 Stanley Cup champion etched his name in Boston's record books across his 16-year tenure with the Original Six club - ranking first in franchise history in playoff goals (56), second in game-winning goals (82), and fourth in both games played (1,090) and goals (422)."
"Of course, Marchand received plenty of cheers during warmups in his anticipated return to Boston, with the Bruins honoring the longtime lineup staple with a video tribute during the first media timeout. The video featured some of Marchand's top highlights during his extended run with the Burins, including his role in Boston's 2011 Stanley Cup title and two more trips to the Stanley Cup Final."
""I'm sure it's going to be tough for some people," Marchand said Monday. "Like they won't be able to cheer because I know they don't like the Panthers very much. But maybe they'll like me enough to give a little 'yay' out there or something.""
Brad Marchand returned to Boston sixteen years after his NHL debut, skating at TD Garden as a member of the Florida Panthers and facing his longtime team for the first time in an opposing sweater. He acknowledged uncertainty about the crowd's reception given his recent role on a rival and his reputation as a pest. The Bruins honored him with a video tribute and warmup cheers, and Marchand saluted the crowd with tears in his eyes. Marchand's 16-year Bruins tenure included a 2011 Stanley Cup title, franchise records in playoff goals, high rankings in game-winning goals, games played and goals.
Read at Boston.com
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