Brad Marchand receives hockey's highest honor

Hockey Canada dropped its 25-man Olympic roster Wednesday, and Florida Panthers teammates Marchand and Reinhart were on it. Milano Cortina in February will be Marchand's first Olympic shot.

Thursday at loanDepot park, Marchand sounded like a rookie again. He said, «It's an incredible feeling,» then added, «every guy in the league has worked their entire life to get to that point.»

At 37, he's done almost everything in hockey, except this.

And the maple leaf piece clearly hits him harder than any trophy.

This isn't a nostalgia pick either, he leads Florida with 45 points on 23 goals in 38 games. His game still travels, quick retrievals, nasty forecheck touches, and a penalty kill turning clears into chances.

Canadian fans have spent years booing him, but nobody wants Marchand on the other bench in February. Having Reinhart beside him makes the Florida connection feel even more real.

Reinhart's call came in June 2025, well before this week. Marchand cracked, «Reino got the call back in June, so he was sitting nice and pretty,» and you can hear the teammate pride.

At 30, drafted second overall by Buffalo in 2014, he has 22 goals and 43 points. Reinhart has 21 assists too, living in soft ice as a power-play bumper with a quick release.

It's easy to picture them on Canada's second unit, Marchand dragging defenders wide, Reinhart sliding into a seam for that one-touch finish. That little give-and-go game is how Florida's cycle turns into slot looks.

Paul Maurice said, «Brad is so well known in Canada, very proud of where he comes from,» and it's a big deal. For Panthers fans, it's surreal watching two stars land on the same card.

First up is Friday's Winter Classic stage in Miami, then the real national spotlight arrives in Italy in February. Marchand looks honored now, but once the puck drops, he'll be the same menace Canada loves.