Don Sweeney Breaks Silence on Brad Marchand Trade, Takes Responsibility for Tough Season
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
It was a trade that shook up the entire league, as Brad Marchand left his forever home of Boston to sunny South Florida, and Don Sweeney finally broke his silence on this.
The 2024-25 NHL trade deadline day was the end of an era in Boston for the team and all of their fans. Franchise forward and legend in Boston, Brad Marchand, who has spent 16 years with the Bruins, has officially departed for the Florida Panthers.
General Manager Don Sweeney commented on the shocking, unexpected move in a heartfelt press conference, truly showing all of his raw emotions.
"They're going to be a team we're jealous of. We've been in the same situation as those teams. They're loading up. Had we done our jobs, had I done my job appropriately, starting there, we'd be adding like we have been the 10 previous years."
- Don Sweeney
- Don Sweeney
The trade was shocking, considering that Marchand has been a four-time All-Star and franchise stalwart. That said, rumblings about him playing elsewhere have been increasing in recent times.
Boston is retaining half of Marchand's salary
Boston will absorb 50% of his cap hit as he completes the final year of an eight-year, $49 million deal. At 36 years old, Marchand can sign as an unrestricted free agent as soon as this season ends.
Although he had originally shown reluctance to leave, Marchand is now officially joining the defending Stanley Cup champions with a legitimate chance at making a deep playoff push, and ultimately capturing another Stanley Cup.
Boston, meanwhile, which had been struggling in the standings, felt this was the appropriate time to move on, which signals they are all but giving up on making the playoffs this season.
As compensation, the Bruins received a conditional second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
If Marchand plays in over half of Florida's games and the Panthers advance two rounds of playoffs, the selection becomes a first-rounder in either 2027 or 2028.
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