If you can't bring yourself to root for the Florida Panthers even if they do have Brad Marchand, that's understandable. Fierce rivalries don't die easily.
But the Boston Bruins as an organization sure would like to get that first-round pick out of the trade, and now they're halfway there.
As a refresher: When the Bruins traded a then-injured Marchand to Florida on trade deadline day, March 7, all they got back was a 2027 conditional second-round pick. Even with the acknowledgment that the injury complicated things, general manager Don Sweeney was widely criticized for not getting more for his captain.
That pick can turn into a first-round pick, though, which would make the trade at least a little more palatable. The conditions: The Panthers needed to win two rounds this spring, and Marchand needed to play at least 50% of their playoff games.
Well, the Panthers have now won a round, finishing off the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games with a 6-3 win Wednesday night. And Marchand played all five games -- quite effectively, we might add. He tied for the team lead with four assists in the series, including two primary helpers in Wednesday's close-out victory.
The Panthers now await either the Toronto Maple Leafs or Ottawa Senators. If they win that series -- and they'll be favored over either -- and Marchand continues to play most or all of Florida's games the rest of the way, the Bruins will get a first-round pick instead of a second.
It's worth noting that there is also a condition attached to the first-round pick. A source confirmed that it will be a top-10-protected pick in 2027, meaning the Bruins get it in 2027 unless it's in the top 10. If the Panthers pick in the top 10 in 2027, they can keep the pick and the Bruins get their 2028 first-round pick instead. The 2028 pick would be unprotected.