Former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron isn't yet ready to welcome the vision of Brad Marchand in the colours of the Florida Panthers—even in his home. The veteran Bruins captain recently shared that he refused his children's request for them to have a Panthers jersey with Marchand's name, stating that it was just ‘way too early’ for that move.
Patrice Bergeron stays loyal to Boston Bruins
On a NESN broadcast, Patrice Bergeron told a funny but revealing anecdote about his children's affection for his now-ex-teammate. After 14 years with Brad Marchand, the six-time Selke Trophy recipient confessed that his children were all about sporting a Florida Panthers jersey following the blockbuster trade.
“I saw, I said, I said earlier that my kids were asking for a Marshy Florida jersey,” Bergeron said, via NESN. “I said, ‘Way too early for that’.”
His response shows the emotional importance of seeing Marchand, his replacement as Bruins captain, depart for another franchise.
Brad Marchand's departure marks the end of an era
The Boston Bruins begrudgingly traded Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers after he was unable to sign a contract extension. Boston was given a conditionally ranked second-round pick in return. Marchand's departure was a significant adjustment for the Bruins, as he had been a mainstay in the organization for over a decade.
Bergeron acknowledged the difficulty of viewing Marchand suited up in Florida colours for the first time. “Just seeing that footage—is definitely different, obviously,” Bergeron said about the clip of Marchand's introduction with the Panthers. “I love him so much. I wish him all the best.”
Contract negotiations played a deciding role in Brad Marchand's departure
NHL analyst Paul Bissonnette reported Marchand had requested from the Bruins a three-year, $7.5 million-annual deal. Boston wasn't keen on making that happen, and that led to the trade.
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Brad Marchand vs. the NHL: A history of suspensions, fines, and redemptionBergeron's stance on his kids' jersey request remains firm for the time being. And considering Marchand is still missing with an upper-body injury, it might well be "way too early" for anyone to embrace his new looks in Florida.
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