Brad Marchand choked up as he addressed the media for the first time since his shocking trade from the Boston Bruins to the Florida Panthers. After spending his entire 16-year career in Boston, the longtime Bruins captain admitted he was caught off guard when contract negotiations fell through and the team chose to move on. “I’ve had an incredible run in that organization, and I’m extremely proud of how things went there,” Marchand said, his voice breaking. “It was very disappointing that things didn’t get done just because, obviously, I love the organization, I wanted to stay there.” Marchand and the Bruins had agreed on a three-year extension before the trade deadline, but according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the sides were too far apart on salary. WATCH: Brad Marchand chokes up recalling his 16 years in Boston and getting traded “I’m extremely proud of how things went there” “it was very disappointing things didn’t get done. I love the organization and wanted to stay there but I know business is business” #Bruins… pic.twitter.com/VxK5fm3Cpl — Yianni Kourakis (@WPBF_Yianni) March 10, 2025 Friedman reported that Marchand requested a face-to-face meeting with the Bruins management to try and bridge the gap, offering to compromise, but Boston stood firm on its stance. “It just didn’t happen,” Friedman said. “I think it really hurt Marchand that the face-to-face meeting couldn’t get a deal done.” Realizing his time in Boston was over, Marchand asked to be traded to the contending Panthers, a team that had eliminated the Bruins in each of the past two post-seasons and is gearing up for another Stanley Cup run after winning it last season. “When the trade happened, like I said, I was disappointed, and I was sad,” Marchand said. “But I’m still extremely grateful that I get to come to an incredible place, an incredible team, a very, very, very competitive team. “I feel rejuvenated coming here.” Marchand, who is recovering from an upper-body injury, will have to wait about two weeks before making his Panthers debut.