Panthers Win; Bruins Gain a First Round Pick – Almost

When the Boston Bruins sent Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, the trade sparked a wave of disappointment, frustration, and even disbelief among fans—especially given that the deal did not include a first-round pick. Seeing their former captain head to the Sunshine State in pursuit of a second Stanley Cup only intensified the emotions surrounding the trade.

The Bruins secured a conditional second-round pick in the trade, with the potential to upgrade to a first-round selection in 2027 or 2028—provided specific conditions are met. And now, we’re on the verge of reality!

Let’s look at the conditions:

The first condition was the Panthers winning two playoff rounds, a milestone they reached by spanking out the Toronto Maple Leafs in a dramatic Game 7 on Sunday night. (We’ll just leave that one alone).

The second condition requires Marchand to participate in at least 50% of the Panthers’ total playoff games—not just those in the first two rounds. If both of their next series were to go the full seven games, the team would end up playing 26 postseason matchups, meaning Marchand would need to appear in 13. With 12 games already under his belt, his presence on the ice when the Eastern Conference Final begins on Tuesday night will officially fulfill that requirement.

The third condition is a two-part condition that determines whether the pick becomes a 2027 or 2028 first round pick.

In the Seth Jones trade, the Panthers sent a conditional first-round pick in 2026 to the Chicago Blackhawks. The condition stated that if Florida used that pick in a separate trade, Chicago’s selection would shift to a 2027 first-round pick—pushing Boston’s pick to 2028. However, since the Panthers did not move that pick in another deal, the 2026 selection was transferred to Chicago, securing Boston’s first-round pick in 2027.

However, the 2027 pick going to Boston is top-10 protected. If the Panthers fall off the map and the pick ends up top-10, then the Bruins would receive a 2028 pick.

Hope that clears everything up!