What hit crying Brad Marchand ‘like a ton of bricks’ in Boston return? He's heartfelt message to Boston after Panthers take down Bruins
Panthers veteran Brad Marchand had a perfect night in his return to Boston, and the Bruins' tribute to him was the cherry on top.
Regardless of how things ended between Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins, the now-Florida Panthers forward will always have a soft spot for the city he called home for 15 seasons. There were expectations that the welcome Marchand would receive in his return to Boston on Tuesday night was going to be special, and they didn't disappoint.
Marchand's emotions came pouring out when the Bruins gave him a beautiful tribute at the game's first television timeout. It featured a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd, and chants of “Marchy, Marchy,” as they did when he made a big play over the past 15 seasons. Marchand's departure didn't go down as the captain would've liked, but this tribute certainly made up for it.
“As soon as I saw my kids on the screen, it kind of hit like a ton of bricks,” Marchand said after the Panthers' win. “The memories. The emotions of everything. The years and the incredible times. It just kind of comes pouring into your memory. It's just crazy to see.”
It was easy for Marchand to get lost in the whirlwind of what transpired last season. He was rehabbing an injury when the Bruins traded him to the Panthers, and by the time he was ready to return, Florida was in the middle of their second consecutive Stanley Cup run. Tuesday night offered him a chance to tie a bow on his Bruins' career.
“There's a lot of things I forget. The years all bunch together. Careers go by fast. It doesn't matter how long you're in it — it goes by extremely fast. To see a snapshot of that in a clip like that, it brings everything back, and the amount of pride that I had — that I have — that I played here and in this organization, I just couldn't hold it in.”
In classic Marchand fashion, he made a direct impact on the Panthers' win over his old team. He had two assists, drew a penalty that Florida eventually scored on, and took two penalty minutes of his own. It was a fitting way for Brad Marchand to pay his own tribute to what he did for 15 years in Black and Gold.
Brad Marchand’s heartfelt message to Boston after Panthers take down Bruins
“I was trying not to cry,” he admitted afterwards, per NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. “That was what I was trying to do. And then, as soon as I saw my kids on the screen, it hit like a ton of bricks. Just the memories and the emotions of everything, just the years and the years and the incredible times. It just kind of came pouring into your memory.”
Marchand continued: “I always loved playing here and loved putting the jersey on and wearing my heart on my sleeve. This is a hardworking city and people appreciate that. I love the fans here. They’re special. They’re an incredible group.”
Although it was widely expected that Marchand would finish his career as a Bruin, he was unable to negotiate a contract extension last season with the front office. Instead, he was traded to the Panthers ahead of the deadline, the team that had knocked Boston out of back-to-back postseasons.
It must have been bittersweet for fans of the franchise to watch Marchand — a heart and soul forward by every definition of the word — win a championship with a bitter division rival.
But after everything the Nova Scotia native has given to the city of Boston throughout his career, he earned all of the love he received on Tuesday night.
Jason Kelce Furious After Eagles Star’s Cryptic Social Media Complaints Go Too Far
After another cryptic social media post from one of the team’s biggest stars, tensions appear to be simmering inside the Philadelphia Eagles locker room — and this time, Jason Kelce
Following A.J. Brown’s latest Instagram post, which many fans and reporters viewed as another indirect complaint, the veteran center reportedly voiced his frustration with the wide receiver’s constant public outbursts.
Kelce, known for his leadership and blunt honesty, didn’t mince words when asked about the situation.
“I’ve never seen a player complain as much as he does. Look at the legends who came before us — they worked in silence and gave everything they had. In Philly, nobody is untouchable. You earn respect by what you do on the field, not by what you post on social media.”
The timing of Kelce’s remarks came just days after Brown’s viral post, which left fans and analysts speculating about whether he was unhappy with his role. Despite posting 121 yards and two touchdowns
in the Eagles’ 28–22 win over the Vikings, Brown once again stirred attention online rather than celebrating the victory.
Insiders close to the team say Kelce’s comments reflect a growing sentiment within the locker room — that social media drama has no place in a franchise built on toughness, accountability, and unity.
Head coach Nick Sirianni has repeatedly downplayed rumors of discord, insisting that “everything’s fine” between the players, but Kelce’s statement suggests that patience may be wearing thin among the veterans who helped build Philadelphia’s identity.
For fans, the message was clear: while talent wins games, the Eagles’ culture has always been about character first. And if anyone knows that better than anyone else, it’s Jason Kelce — the heart of the locker room and the embodiment of what “Fly Eagles Fly” truly means.
