Brad Marchand trade makes Panthers one of NHL's most physical teams

The 2024-25 Florida Panthers are rapidly becoming a real-life version of the Charleston Chiefs from the movie "Slap Shot." 

At least as it relates to their rough style of play, which will only get more intense following Friday's acquisition of veteran forward Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins.

Florida was already one of the league's most physical and agitating teams due to the presence of forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. Adding Marchard — one of the biggest pests of the modern era — to that group will only make them even more insufferable to play against. 

Between the three of them, Tkachuk, Bennett and Marchand have combined for 11 different suspensions (and many fines) throughout their NHL careers, along with countless other questionable plays that have avoided supplementary discipline from the league's Department of Player Safety. 

It is not just that all three of them are physical; they also play the game in a way that consistently toes the line between physical and dirty. There is always the extra hit, the extra glove to the face, the potential reckless hit, and, in Marchand's case, the potential lick. 

But what makes them even more compelling is that all three players are also excellent hockey players. Tkachuk is an MVP-caliber forward, while Marchand has been one of the league's best two-way players for over a decade. Bennett might not be entirely on their level offensively, but he is no slouch and can still score 20-25 goals a season. 

The Panthers' only negative is that they will have to wait a bit for all three to be united.

Tkachuk is out for the remainder of the regular season due to an injury he suffered during the 4 Nations Face-Off but is expected to be back for the start of the playoffs. Marchand, meanwhile, is sidelined for the next few weeks following an injury just before the trade deadline. 

The Panthers have been the most successful team in the league the past three seasons, winning the Presidents' Trophy in 2021-22 and appearing in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2022-23 and 2023-24, winning the latter one. When they get fully healthy, they have a real chance to compete for a third and a chance to repeat.