Marchand is one of only nine to play parts of 16 seasons with the team, and served as a connective tie for a defining period in franchise history.

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

On the morning that he met with Florida media for the first time since being traded to the Panthers on Friday, former Bruins captain Brad Marchand took out a full-page ad in the Boston Globe, thanking the city and fans of Boston. Marchand, 36, who will be a free agent after the season was dealt for a conditional draft pick.

While the former Bruins captain is still weeks away from returning to game action following an upper-body injury, Marchand is starting to ingratiate himself to his new teammates days after Boston dealt him to one of their most-loathed rivals.

Are #Bruins actually a better team since dealing Brad Marchand? Bruins legend Mike Milbury joins! How much $ was Marchand looking for?