We’re not saying we believe in invisible onion chopping ninjas, but if we did, they were definitely on the Florida Panthers bench the other night. As the Boston Bruins played an emotional tribute video Brad Marchand couldn’t hold back tears and let the water works flow. The Jumbotron read “welcome home” while completely ignoring the fact Marchand is now wearing a Florida Panthers jersey.
Marchand’s place in Bruins history isn’t up for debate. He’s forever a Beantown legend, but will he get his number retired? That might be a more complicated question.
Marchand’s career trajectory reminds us of another player that was destined to be a forever Bruin. That player was Raymond Bourque (let us explain). Bourque seemed like he would forever be a Bruin before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche for one last chance at the cup before hanging up his skates when the unfortunate reality set in that the Bruins wouldn’t be raising a banner. He would earn the cup in his final career game.
It would seem premature for the Bruins to say Marchand’s number will eventually be retired. That’s what Houston Rockets owner/potential Houston NHL expansion team owner/current United States ambassador Tilman Fertitta once did. After the Rockets traded disgruntled superstar James Harden, Fertitta announced that the Rockets would retire his number whenever his playing career ends. That was over four years ago. Not only is Harden’s career still ongoing, he’s played for three different reams since.
Marchand was also traded in the twilight of his career to a cup contender. Like Bourque he almost immediately achieved that goal with his new team. Unlike Bourque, Marchand didn’t retire yet re-committed to his new destination. It wasn’t a short term deal either, as Marchand signed for another six years to stay in South Florida. He has become more likeable to fans across the league as a member of the Panthers as well.
We don’t know what will happen throughout that contract’s lifetime. Will Marchand retire beforehand? Will Florida fall out of contention and find a trade partner for Marchand? Will six years not be enough and he sign yet another contract after that?
Point is the longer Marchand plays away from Boston the more complicated the question of “should his jersey be retired” gets. Most would agree today that Marchand has earned that honor. As his time in a Bruins jersey becomes a memory, would that be more in hindsight?
Let’s discuss any hypothetical success Marchand could have with the Panthers. Maybe he’ll play out the rest of that contract with great success. Maybe the Panthers will win even more championships and Marchand’s Panthers rings will outnumber his only Bruins ring. More importantly, what if there’s a day when a young hockey fan (let’s set the scene and say it’s a ten year old post Marchand retirement) reflects on Marchand’s hypothetical Florida success and says with almost disbelief “wait, he was once a Bruin?” Seems unlikely but if Marchand has continued success as he Bruins tenure fades towards memory it could be possible.
If we’re going to compare Marchand to other former Bruins players let’s compare him to fellow 2011 cup champion Zdeno Chara. Chara, like Marchand, left the Bruins and made a few other stops before retiring and signing a one day contract to do so with Boston. Those stops were brief and mostly in memorable and Chara will have his jersey retired by Boston this season. Our previous example of Ray Bourque also has his number retired by the team. Marchand decision to commit long term to a team not named “The Boston Bruins” is the biggest difference.