BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 21: An emotional Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers thanks the crowd on his return to Boston during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on October 21, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Brad Marchand returned to Boston on Tuesday night
  • The Panthers forward was moved to tears by the Bruins’ tribute video
  • Watch Marchand’s reaction and more

When the NHL released the schedule for this season, Boston Bruins fans had tonight circled on their calendars. Longtime Bruins forward Brad Marchand made his return to Boston for the first time since being traded to the Florida Panthers at the deadline in March.

Marchand and the Panthers got on the board early, with the forward picking up an assist on Mackie Samoskevich’s power-play goal just 61 seconds into the game.

But it was Marchand’s emotional reaction to the Bruins’ video tribute and a long ovation from the Boston crowd at TD Garden that really made the night.

Shortly after Marchand helped the Panthers take a 1-0 lead, the Bruins welcomed him back to Boston with a video tribute that moved him to tears.

It’s a well-deserved ovation for Marchand, and one of the longest ones in recent memory.

Marchand spent the first 16 seasons of his career with the Bruins, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 and reaching the Stanley Cup Final again in 2013 and 2019. He scored 422 goals and added 554 assists for 976 points in 1,090 career games with the Bruins, plus 138 points (56 goals, 82 assists) in 157 playoff games.

The longtime Bruin was named captain in 2023 after Patrice Bergeron retired, and he wore the C up until being traded in March. Boston has yet to name a captain since moving on from Marchand, and perhaps, that’s how it should be — at least for now.