Marchand had gotten a taste of walking into TD Garden as a member of the visiting team last month while playing for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, dressing in the visitor’s room and sitting on the opposing bench.
This wasn’t that, though. This felt final, even if Marchand has not entirely closed the door to a return to the team with which he spent the first 16 seasons of his NHL career.
“It wasn’t as uncomfortable as I was walking in that day,” Marchand said, of the 4 Nations. “But definitely still a different feeling.”
It will still be a while before Marchand actually takes the ice for the Panthers in a game, but this was a first step into a new reality for the former Bruins captain. Panthers coach Paul…