Shocking Trading Deal: Describing the Bruins’ trade of Brad Marchand using Red Sox………………read more

Former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is one of those players who will always seem out of place in another uniform. Even referring to him as a “former” Bruin feels odd.

In many ways, Marchand — the fiery winger known for his “rat-like” antics, adored by Boston fans and despised by others — became a symbol of Bruins hockey throughout his 15-plus years with the team. Drafted and developed by Boston, he was a homegrown talent who flourished with the club, became a 100-point scorer, won a Stanley Cup, and earned the captain’s role.

It’s hard to fully capture what Marchand means to the Bruins and their supporters. Yet, as the March 7 NHL trade deadline approached, the Bruins made the decision to trade him to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in 2027, while retaining half of his salary on a contract set to expire this season.

But this wasn’t just a trade of the beloved captain — the Bruins traded him to Florida. This means they strengthened one of their biggest rivals. While the Bruins-Panthers rivalry is still in its early stages, it has grown more intense due to the Panthers eliminating the Bruins from the playoffs in the past two seasons, making the rivalry feel fresh and bitter for both teams and their fanbases.

The culture and history of Boston’s major professional sports teams — the Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots — are deeply connected. While there may not be a direct equivalent to the Marchand trade in Red Sox history, there are a few moves that evoke similar strong reactions from Boston sports fans.

Comparing the Bruins’ Brad Marchand trade to notable Red Sox moves:

Carlton Fisk leaving for the White Sox (1981)
After seven All-Star appearances with the Red Sox, catcher Carlton Fisk signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1981. He had to switch his jersey number to 72, as Ken Kravec already wore No. 27. (But don’t worry; Fisk is still depicted wearing a Red Sox cap on his Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown.)

With the Panthers set to play the Bruins on March 11, just days after the trade deadline, the Marchand trade recalls Fisk’s departure. While Marchand may not play due to injury, he was still seen skating on TD Garden ice in a Panthers jersey on Tuesday morning. It’s a tough sight for Boston fans.

Johnny Damon joining the Yankees (2005)
Like Fisk, Johnny Damon is another example of a Red Sox player who left for another team, but Damon’s choice of destination was the worst possible: the Yankees.

Despite swearing he would never join the Yankees, Damon signed a four-year, $54 million contract with them in the 2005 offseason. He was met with boos and harsh criticism from Red Sox fans, calling him everything from a “Judas” to a “sell-out.” Over time, however, the animosity has eased, especially after it was revealed that Damon never truly wanted to leave Boston. Yet one thing Red Sox fans will never forget is that the Yankees made Damon cut off his hair and iconic beard. It added insult to injury.

Mookie Betts traded to the Dodgers (2020)
A more recent comparison to the Marchand trade in terms of impact might be Mookie Betts being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. At the time, the trade felt lopsided, and with each passing year, it seems even more so.

Just a year after winning the World Series, a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, and the AL MVP in the same season, Betts was traded to the Dodgers in a franchise-altering deal. Sadly, for the Red Sox, the trade didn’t pay off. While Betts helped the Dodgers win their first World Series since 1988 — and their second last year — the Red Sox have only made one postseason appearance since the trade (the 2021 ALCS) and have suffered three last-place finishes in five seasons since then.