The uncomfortable reality of Marchand and Boston being separate entities was inevitable after the team fell short a couple of years ago.

Marchand wanted to play his entire career in Boston. His leadership and the team’s culture was something new Bruins always said they had admired from afar and made them want to be part of the organization. That doesn’t mean the Bruins should have caved to any demand Marchand made, but trading him will be noticed.

Brad Marchand skated on the ice at TD Garden for the first time since he was traded from the Bruins to the Panthers. "It still felt weird," he said of the practice skate.