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

Brad Marchand was back on the TD Garden ice on Tuesday morning. Only this time, the 36-year-old winger shed the spoked-B for a Panthers logo.

Marchand met with general manager Don Sweeney before the trade deadline, offering to compromise, but the Bruins did not adjust their offer, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, ultimately making a "really, really difficult" decision, per Sweeney.