Even before the 2025 Stanley Cup Final begins in Edmonton, Brad Marchand feels like he`s already come out on top.
During a long playoff flight, possibly the longest in North American sports series history, Florida Panthers teammates held an epic poker game to pass the time.
Marchand still wears the look of someone who won big, pulling in piles of chips.
“Yeah, I might have cleaned up,” the veteran forward and recent addition to the Panthers remarked, joking, “The IRS might be looking for me after this.”
Naturally, more games will be played. And just like the Edmonton Oilers, teammate Sam Bennett is already looking forward to another chance.
“We have some long flights ahead to win it back,” Bennett cautioned, adding, “Yes, it’s true he won today. But if you asked him about last week, he wasn`t so successful then.”
Marchand remembers all the wins and losses.
He holds onto the good times and regrets the bad.
Seeking redemption and drawing inspiration.
Now, with the 37-year-old veteran experiencing a winning streak, having moved from a non-playoff team mid-season to a championship contender, he`s fully committed.
While Marchand did win a Stanley Cup in his rookie season with Boston in 2011, he reached the Final two more times with the Bruins (2013, 2019) only to suffer heartbreaking losses: a Game 6 defeat after losing a third-period lead and a crushing Game 7 loss at home.
Speaking for almost 20 minutes during media day, Marchand, known for both his shrewdness and his edge, interestingly not only spoke positively about 2011 (“I definitely wasn’t too young to enjoy it”) but also voluntarily mentioned the painful 2023 loss, illustrating how small moments on the ice can lead to significant regret.
He recalled that key upset series where his Bruins, having won the Presidents` Trophy and set regular-season records, lost a 3-1 first-round lead against the determined Panthers.
“I always think back to losing to Florida a couple of years ago,” Marchand stated. “Honestly, we should never have lost that series, but we did. I missed a breakaway opportunity in Game 5 with just seconds left, which could have ended it. Instead, Bob (Sergei Bobrovsky) made a crucial save, and Florida went on to win. Across all playoff series, it`s these small moments that open doors for teams.”
“The longer you participate in the playoffs, the more you understand how incredibly difficult it is to win, how many things have to fall into place perfectly,” he concluded.
Neville Woodall