Maritimers On The Move! Brad Marchand Traded to Florida, Jacob Melanson's NHL Debut

 

Photo: PressHerald


    It has been quite the week for two Maritime athletes. For one, it was the beginning of a career. For the other, the beginning of a new chapter in an already well-decorated career. 


    Starting off with one of the biggest NHL Trade Deadline moves in recent history, the Brad Marchand trade. The Boston Bruins sent Halifax, Nova Scotia native and team captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional 2nd round pick. This trade took the hockey world by sort of a surprise as Brad had played his entire 16-year NHL career for the Bruins and has served as captain since 2023. He also played a major role in the team's 2011 Stanley Cup Championship. This trade, along with some other moves made by the Bruins today, marks the end of an era for the franchise. The Panthers have put together a very strong team this year and are on a mission to go for back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. 


    Brad was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was a member of Team Canada in the 4-Nations Face-Off tournament that took place last month. He played for two Maritime QMJHL teams in his junior career. He started things off with the Moncton Wildcats, where he played from 2004-2006. He was a member of the 2005-2006 championship team, where he scored 40 points in 20 games in that playoff run. After some time in Val-d'Or, he joined his hometown Halifax Mooseheads, where he finished his QMJHL career there, playing 26 regular season games, and 10 playoff games in the 2007-2008 season. 


    As big of a change Brad being shipped out of Boston will be, he has a very good opportunity ahead of him with Florida as he has a solid shot at a second Stanley Cup before he retires.


    Shifting our focus a bit, we have some really awesome news from Seattle. Amhurst Nova Scotia native Jacob Melanson played in his first career NHL game Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. Jacob has spent most of his season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, where he has 10 points in 27 games. Thursday morning he got the call that he's dreamed of his whole life. He got the news that he had been called up to the NHL. Jacob took the ice at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Tennessee Thursday night, where he played 9 minutes and 53 seconds, recording four hits in the process. He had spent the majority of his junior hockey career with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, where he played 99 regular season games, as well as 13 playoff games with the club. He is now back with the Firebirds but the future is bright for the 21-year-old.


    On a personal note, I will be returning to Moncton Sunday, as my vacation comes to an end. I plan on attending a lot of events in the coming weeks such as UdeM playoff hockey games, QMJHL games, NBIAA events, and other events, so stay tuned for more articles, as well as  YouTube content on 424 Productions!

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