Golden Knights Head Coach Cassidy Chirps, Praises Marchand

On Tuesday night, longtime Boston Bruin Brad Marchand took the ice at TD Garden as he’d done many times before. But for the first time, he wore the visitor’s white. 

By now, everyone knows the story. The flailing Bruins sold at the 2025 Trade Deadline and ended up sending Marchand, their captain, to the Florida Panthers. Marchand responded with a ten-goal, 20-point playoff performance en route to his second Stanley Cup– the perfect storybook ending.

But that wasn’t the end– not really. Marchand signed a long-term deal to stay in Florida, closing the Boston chapter of his life forever. 

After 1090 games, 422 goals, and 976 points, the Bruins owed Marchand a hell of a tribute video. And, boy, did they deliver!

Tuesday was an emotional night. In his return to TD Garden, Marchand notched two assists and took a penalty. And, he went viral for his emotional reaction to the combination of the tribute video and the ovation from Bruins fans.

On Wednesday after team practice, current Vegas Golden Knights head coach– and former Bruins head coach– Bruce Cassidy was asked if he’d seen the emotional moment.

“I saw him bawling his eyes out there on TV. I thought it was great,” Cassidy grinned. “He’s such a smack-talker, he’s going to hear about that on Saturday.”

Cassidy and Marchand both arrived in Providence, Boston’s AHL affiliate, in 2008. However, Marchand made it toBoston before Cassidy, becoming a full-time NHL player for the Bruins in 2010. Cassidy took over as Providence’s head coach in 2011 and became head coach of the Boston Bruins in 2016. 

Between their time in Boston and Providence, Cassidy spent nearly eight seasons as Marchand’s coach. So, it was only natural that he was asked about Marchand’s return after practice on Wednesday.

“I imagine it was very emotional for him. It should be,” Cassidy said. “He was there a long time, had a family there. It would be a tough one for him. I can’t speak for him, but I don’t imagine he wanted to leave [Boston]. He landed in a great spot, so it worked out. But a big piece of him is still in Boston.

“I was there when he was a young guy in Providence. I coached him there for a long time. Great person,” Cassidy continued. “I was talking this morning with [Gary Lawless] and [Dave Goucher], he’s in the Hall of Fame conversation now. From a guy who was a fourth-line player, who started in the minors, that’s quite a growth. 

“And most of that– well, pretty much all of it– happened in New England,” Cassidy finished. “So, I imagine it hit home real hard for him.”

Cassidy knows firsthand how it feels to return to TD Garden after years with the Bruins’ organization. After all, he made that very return in 2022. And just like Marchand, Cassidy received the ovation he deserved from the fans.

“He’s one of the best chirpers, so I brought that up, but I felt good for him,” Cassidy said. “There’s always that [question] when you go back, how the fans are going to react? But I knew they’d give him a great ovation, because he deserves it. He did a lot for that franchise.”