The chaos of how NHL trades unfold behind the scenes rarely gets told, but Sam Bennett just pulled back the curtain on one of the wildest ways a blockbuster deal can spread through a locker room.
When the Florida Panthers traded for Brad Marchand mid-season, Bennett revealed how the team’s group chat turned into complete mayhem before anyone knew what actually happened.
How Did the Panthers Players Learn About the Brad Marchand Trade?
During a recent appearance on the “Empty Netters” podcast with Chris and Dan Powers, Bennett shared the hilarious story of how rumors about the Marchand trade spread through the team’s group chat before any official announcement.
The whole situation started when whispers began circulating, but no official word had come down yet. That’s when Matthew Tkachuk, known as “Chucky” to his teammates, decided to have some fun with everyone.
“But there were rumors going around, and then I think it was Chucky in the group chat. It was one of the guys in the group chat who said we just traded for Marshy, and then there was just silence, and so we’re like following each other, looking around, and then Chucky messages again…. And we were all like fired up, and then we’re like, ‘Oh no, we just lost like trying to hand Sam,'” Bennett revealed.
The prank sent the entire locker room into a frenzy, with players frantically trying to piece together what was real and what wasn’t, all while Tkachuk continued to mess with them.
“We were like, ‘Wait, we wouldn’t have done that, it seems odd.’ But Chucky was just like making like he was just messing with us. Just completely with us. So he didn’t even know the true rumor. That’s insane. And then we’re all like freaking out, trying to figure it out. It probably took like an hour after he said that until we finally figured out what it was for. But yeah, that was wild,” he further added.
What makes the story even better is that Tkachuk was completely making it up. He didn’t actually know any details about the trade; he was just stirring the pot and watching his teammates scramble to figure out what was happening. It took about an hour of chaos before the team finally got the real story.
Beyond the trade story, Bennett also opened up about his experience representing Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The tournament clearly left a lasting impression on him.
MORE: ‘Brad Marchand Should Have Won’ – NHL Legend Makes Feelings Clear On Sam Bennett’s Conn Smythe Win
“Yeah, it’s incredible. I mean, getting the chance to represent your country at a tournament like that is the greatest honor, and that tournament was incredible. I mean, you could just feel the emotion from the fans,” Bennett said when discussing what it meant to wear the Maple Leaf.
Bennett’s contribution proved crucial in Canada’s gold medal run. He scored an important goal in the final against the United States, tying the game 2-2 and setting the stage for Connor McDavid’s overtime heroics that secured the championship.
