"Keep everything personal": Charlie McAvoy is heartbroken over Brad Marchand’s trade

Charlie McAvoy is feeling emotional after the Boston Bruins made several major trades before the NHL trade deadline. The team moved key players, including Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche, and Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs. McAvoy shared his feelings on Instagram, posting photos and a broken heart emoji in response to Marchand’s departure.

This isn’t the first time Charlie McAvoy had to say goodbye to close teammates. Last summer, he also expressed sadness when Jake DeBrusk and Matt Grzelcyk left for new teams. McAvoy’s reaction highlights how strong the bonds between teammates can be and how difficult it is to see friends go in the business of professional hockey.
As for Boston, they acquired a conditional 2027 second-round pick, but here is the catch: “The conditional second-round draft pick will become a 2027 or 2028 first-round draft pick if Florida wins two rounds of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Marchand appears in at least 50 percent of the team’s playoff games.”
Boston is paying half of Marchand’s salary, making his trade to Florida even more shocking. With the Bruins struggling and a 4.2% playoff chance, change was necessary. Marchand hoped to retire in Boston, but a reunion in free agency is possible.

During the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal, Marchand and McAvoy put friendship aside, fully committed to their national teams. No greetings, no small talk, just fierce competition, game faces, and national pride.
But hockey is unpredictable. When McAvoy suffered a serious AC joint injury and a shoulder infection that led to hospitalization, Marchand’s competitive edge quickly turned to concern. “I’ve reached out to him. I’m going to keep everything personal, but first and foremost, all you care about is the guy’s health, and I’m very happy to hear that he’s doing well,” Marchand put hockey aside, prioritizing McAvoy’s well-being over the game.
Also Read: NHL Trade Deadline: The Boston Bruins are trading Brad Marchand to the Stanley Cup defending champion Florida Panthers
Marchand’s fierce competitive spirit vanished the moment McAvoy was injured. In that instant, hockey no longer mattered, only his friend’s well-being did. In the end, friendship proved stronger than the game.