"Reminds me a lot of Bergeron" - Brad Marchand reserves special praise for Panthers teammate, compares him to six-time Selke Trophy-winner

Brad Marchand is heading back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2019, though this time it's as a member of the Florida Panthers. After winning the Stanley Cup in his first full NHL season, Marchand's been through the heartbreak of losing in the finals in 2013 and then again in 2019. This has fueled him to make another run at it as his legendary career winds down.

The trade deadline deal sending Marchand to Florida shocked the hockey world, but the longtime Bruin has fit in like a glove and has found immediate chemistry on what has become the best third line in hockey with Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell.

Marchand heaped praise on his new linemate in a conversation with ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

"He plays a man's game. He plays through bodies. He's hard on pucks, wins a lot of battles... He's very, very skilled. He's great with the puck. He doesn't force plays. He's very smart in the way that he plays... He's so defensively good with the stick. It reminds me a lot of Bergy, where he leads with the stick a lot, kills a lot of plays that way, and creates offense from that," Marchand said.

Bergeron, a six-time winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy, was a teammate of Marchand at the Bruins.

Eetu Luostarinen, meanwhile, has been an unsung hero for Florida in these playoffs, racking up 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 17 games thus far.

Brad Marchand is cherishing another opportunity to compete for the Cup

At 37 years old, Brad Marchand knows this might be one of, if not the last, Stanley Cup runs of his career.

Marchand spoke to NHL.com writer Amalie Benjamin ahead of his fourth Stanley Cup Final appearance.

"I hope it's not (my last). But realistically, I have a few years left. Hopefully, I can have another run, but if not, hopefully can take advantage of this one," Marchand said.

Despite his age, Brad Marchand has been very productive with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) through 17 games this postseason.

He and the Florida Panthers are set to take on the Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night in Edmonton. The puck drops at 8 p.m. EST at Rogers Place.