Fans are waiting to see what decision Florida Panthers star Brad Marchand makes in free agency. Two familiar teams are trying to schedule to talk to Marchand.
In a X post (formerly Twitter) from Senior NHL Columnist Pierre LeBrun said that the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to talk to Marchand when the market opens on Tuesday.
“As we wait to see Brad Marchand’s decision with Florida, several teams including Boston and Toronto hope to talk to him come Tuesday when the market opens, if he doesn’t re-sign with the Cup champs. The Bruins would certainly be open to bringing him back. But again, perhaps Marchand re-signs in Florida,” LeBrun said.
The Panthers are likely going to keep re-signing Marchand at the top of their priorities along with making sure to re-sign Sam Bennett as well. But if the two sides are unable to come to an agreement, Marchand could be playing elsewhere next season.
Marchand joined the Panthers in early March after the Bruins traded him to Florida in an unexpected deal in exchange for a conditional second-round pick that turned into a first-rounder due to the Panthers championship run.
A reunion with Boston would mean the Bruins ended up gaining a 2027 first round pick while finding a way to get their longtime star back. Marchand won the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals with Boston against the Canucks.
A deal with the Maple Leafs would certainly help Toronto in case it loses Mitch Marner in free agency. Marchand has had plenty of playoff success against the Maple Leafs, taking them out five times in his career.
