Brad Marchand leaving the Boston Bruins for the Florida Panthers is one of the most shocking trades in modern NHL history. Now, behind-the-scenes footage from the exact moment Don Sweeney informed the front office about the trade has been released—and everyone is saying the same thing about it.
Marchand has been the face of the Bruins since his NHL debut and, for the last couple of years, served as the team’s captain. Many, including Marchand himself, thought he would retire in Boston. However, over the past year, rumors of a potential trade began to circulate. When Marchand and the Bruins failed to reach a new deal in negotiations, the unthinkable happened: on trade deadline day, he was dealt to the Florida Panthers.
Fans were emotional, and the entire NHL was stunned by the news. Marchand has long been one of the league’s most controversial yet beloved players, and few expected the Bruins to pull the trigger on trading him.
Video of Brad Marchand’s trade released
Now, the team has released exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the exact moment general manager Don Sweeney broke the news to the front office that Brad Marchand was no longer a Bruin. The footage, part of the Bruins’ Behind the B series, captures Sweeney walking into a room filled with team personnel to deliver the announcement. As he spoke, the room fell silent, with one person muttering, “Jesus” under his breath.
“Florida just traded for March,” Sweeney said. “It’s a second-round pick in ’27, which turns into a first if they get through two rounds and he plays 50% of the games. Retention is 50%.”
On social media, many reacted to how tense and somber the atmosphere in the room felt.
“Yeeesh, you can tell the vibe in that room is quite deflated,” one person commented.
“Damn. That was kinda hard to watch,” another added.
“No one was ‘happy’ about this. You can tell they’re sad. The mood is solemn. This is the business side of things—guys doing their job, even when it isn’t the feel-good part,” a third wrote.
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