Marchand is one of only nine to play parts of 16 seasons with the team, and served as a connective tie for a defining period in franchise history.

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

Then, to top it off, Nikita Zadorov fired up the TD Garden by roughing up Sam Bennnett, the same Sam Bennett who concussed Marchand in the playoffs last year and then became his friend on Team Canada at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off.