Fort Lauderdale – Brad Merchand is a Florida Panther.
A few days ago, the statement didn’t sound like crazy.
After this morning, it feels just right.
The first time he met the media since his trade with the Boston Bruins was that of Beantown, Merchand, who spent 16 years of an entire NHL career in Beantown, spoke about joining the Panthers and chasing another Stanley Cup at a press conference on Monday.
From big laughs to engaging moments of some tears, continue below and see what he had to say.
Question: What emotions are you feeling at this point?
Marchand: It’s been a whirlwind here for the last few days. Obviously, it’s sad to leave the place I see as home. There are so many great memories in Boston, and there are so many incredible years there, but being part of such an incredible group is very exciting. I literally had flashbacks back to the year we won, and some of the groups we had over the years saw with incredible chemistry and incredible culture. Walking here, you can see how the guys interact and the relationship they have, not just in the room as players, but also having staff and management. It shows why they have been the pillars of the league in the last few years. I’m extremely excited to be part of the group and I’m really looking forward to going back on the ice and being part of the group.
Question: You only knew one team in your career. Now it’s a new team, a new building, a new logo, a new gear, etc., so how exciting is the idea of something new at this point in your career?
Marchand: The way I see these things would have been an incredible opportunity to be in Boston and play in one place for my entire career, but I always had the attitude that I should be grateful for every opportunity. That gratitude part doesn’t get me lost. Being part of this league is being able to play here and play the games we love to earn a living every day. When the deal happened I was disappointed and saddened, but I am very grateful to be able to come to an incredible team, a very, very, very competitive team. That’s what you want. So, ultimately, you need to have the opportunity to chase the Stanley Cup and play for it every year. I am extremely grateful to be part of an incredible team that is another team that has the opportunity this year. You never know how much time you have in this league. You never know when your last day will be, and you want to make the most of it. It would have been great to stay there and make a career, but this is an incredible opportunity that I am excited about and I feel like I’m coming here. Those are completely different ways of thinking from where we were teaming and what we are experiencing. It’s an exciting and great opportunity to see the path these guys are preparing for the playoffs, the start of morning preparations, how to deal with things.
Question: Do you think it attracted you to the Panthers?
Marchand: Obviously, they’ve bounced the Bruins over the last few years, but it’s very noteworthy to see their growth as a group over the last few years. I think I played teams many times this year, but I remember thinking it was a team this year. I thought how they came to you with a long wave of all the games, the depth they had in their group, they have experience, know what it takes when they get in those tough situations, and it was incredibly valuable. They didn’t lose many people, and the people they did were replaced by great players. I’ve just seen the group and it’s a team that has the ability to go all the way again. It’s a very dangerous combination when it matches the depth of the drive, experience, and group. When things were going on and it was kind of writing on the wall, this is definitely where I wanted to go.
Question: Knowing this is the first time I’ve entered a new dressing room, how do you balance the aspects of leadership that you can bring to your team?
Marchand: In the past, I have had the opportunity to step into different rooms with different Canadian teams and things like that. The way I see him come here is that I don’t step on my toes, but I’m not going to change who I am. I have a bit of a outgoing personality, and when I enter the room, in the game on the ice, my competitiveness takes over a kind of kind. I get a little focused and emotional at times. I think you’re part of a really good group, especially in hockey culture, guys don’t take things personally. There are moments when I’m sure I’m getting a little bigger and maybe a little emotional and knowing there’s a guy or some words no matter what, but that’s because I like to push. I like to make the environment competitive and that’s exactly what I am. I also like having a lot of fun. I like to joke around and get to know everyone. I just bumped into (Nico) Miccola and told him how excited I was not to run to him every time I touched the puck. That kind of thing you know is so much fun for everyone to get to know each other. I’m going to do that. Again, as with the leadership aspects and things, they have an incredible leadership group. They have a lot of veteran guys with lots of experience. They are on the right path here and there are plenty of incredible guys in the room. I’m excited about some of it.
Question: You may have a line where you don’t have to be a guy, you don’t have to do what you do, you can play in groups and burn leagues.
Marchand: Those guys are incredible players. They created the game with Nie that allowed them to achieve incredible success in this league. What I like about it is that they play the right way. They play the type of games, there are people built for the regular season, there are people built for the playoffs, and they are built for the playoffs. They are built to win. Play Winning Style. They play 200 feet of games the right way and are extremely difficult to compete against. I never played a certain way of playing the game because I felt the need to try to move the group or the team. Because I played the way I did it. I don’t feel like I need to change anything. Cannot be changed. That would simply be a disadvantage, but I think there are a lot of free titles in our game. That’s what I think there are a lot of people who play the way they do it when you see their team. I think it’s a way they get coached, play through the guys and play hard. They all have love for each other, so they just have love for each other, they take care of each other, you stick together, and you stick to each other because that is what the winning team has. Those people also shine in those moments, and they are those who stir up the pot and wreak havoc there. I call them predators. Because you need to know where they are always and those are the people you want on your team. They are the people you want to go to fight and the people you want to be with. I’m really, really excited. I had the opportunity to play with Benny (Sam Bennett) and Reino (Sam Reinhart). There are several people I’ve played in the past, like Greersy (AJ Greer). He seems to be that way. I love Greersy. When there are many people on a team that plays that way, it’s a dangerous combination.
Question: You were clearly slammed a bit last week. How’s your mood and how is it? What is your approach to building bonds?
Marchand: I’m getting better every day. I think that’s how I explain it. The team had a break yesterday, so unfortunately we weren’t able to spend as much time with everyone as I wanted. I think it’s the biggest thing when you’re not on the ice, but you just have to spend time with the group outside the ice and get to know each other. I hope it works today. I might be able to jump on the ice tomorrow, but I haven’t gone far yet. I’m going to try out what I haven’t been able to do here today and go from there. As for the timeline, I really don’t know when I’ll be back. It was something I was proud of and I’m going to shoot to go back as it was always something I’ve been prideful to. Anything I can play, that doesn’t change here.
Q: What happens to something like returning to Boston on Tuesday?
Marchand: It’s bittersweet. Going home is great. And when I was traded, everyone was all on the road, so before I left I didn’t see many people. I’m happy to be able to see everyone and say goodbye. It’s great to see my family again and get lots of mine. Going home is great, it’s probably very much. It’s strange to be there as an opposing team. I think it’s fine, but it’s a bit sad. I have so much respect for Cam (Neeley), Sween (Don Sweeney), and Charlie (Jacobs). The people there were making decisions and honestly they were there for a long time, so I got to know them well. Not just business relationships, but personal relationships as well. We have such a wonderful friendship.
Question: Have you been playing with people like Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart alongside Canada in a four-country showdown put you in this new situation?
Marchand: Benny (Bennett) is amazing. I really had a great time getting to know him in four countries. We’re doing really, really well. I wasn’t surprised that we did. I was very excited to be his teammate, to play with him in four countries, to be here and be his teammate again and try to do a really good run. He is one of those people you absolutely want to play and not against.
Question: Is this your first time wearing Panthers gear?
Marchand: I first wore the Panthers last night. I was facetime on the kids, and we were both about to call, and there were hats on the table. I was like that before you went to see this, and I dressed it, and it was a strange feeling. This is the first time I’ve been decorated with uniforms, but reality is set here and I’m beginning to feel like a part of a group. The last few days have been a whirlwind so you start to get in here and feel a part of it when everyone around you are around you.
