The Panthers unveiled a special-edition JetBlue plane this morning, and Brad Marchand was there to sign it.
Florida is 9-5-2 after beating Chicago 5-3 last night, with a road-heavy October behind it. A team that spends that much time in the air was always going to get a plane of its own.
The club announced the livery, called "Go Cats Go," as a celebration of its expanded partnership with JetBlue and the shared South Florida roots of the two organizations.
Bill Zito gave beat reporter Jameson Olive the line of the morning, saying: "You know when you see the Stanley Cup and it has energy? That's how I feel looking at this [plane]."
Then came the naming story. Olive reported that Zito said Marchand wanted the plane to be called "Brad."
Marchand's signed plane heads to Boston today
Marchand signed the aircraft, and Olive reports it will fly to Boston later today. The winger had a theory about the timing, telling reporters: "I think they did that on purpose."
Go Cats Go was the right call. A plane named Brad would have been a good joke for a week, and then it would have been a plane named Brad.
On the ice, Marchand is listed on injured reserve with a knee injury, and the latest injury report has him out until at least Nov 21. That return date is an estimate.
The Panthers themselves are back to business Saturday, November 7, at Washington. They are 5-3-2 on the road this season, and the Capitals are coming off a 6-5 loss to Dallas.
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