Brad Marchand is a Boston Bruins legend.
And after the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring, he’s also a Florida Panthers hero, the guy who got them over the line in clutch moment after clutch moment en route to hoisting the Cup.
But for the second time in as many days, an NHL writer is predicting that Marchand will join an Eastern Conference rival. On Thursday, it was The Daily Faceoff. And on Friday, Pro Hockey Rumors.
Both NHL news sites predict Marchand to go and play for the Toronto Maple Leafs on a new free agent contract.
PHR projects a two-year deal worth a total of $16 million for Marchand.
“While Marchand goes by many nicknames, Big Game Brad may be the most apt. After spending his entire career with the Bruins, the now-former Boston captain was shipped to the Panthers at the trade deadline,” PHR writes. “The 37-year-old had a somewhat underwhelming offensive showing in the regular season, which was presumably set to limit his market this summer. That all changed with a spectacular postseason showing, finishing as the runner-up to Bennett for the Conn Smythe after scoring 20 points in 23 games, including six goals in six Stanley Cup Final games. Age-related decline is a legitimate concern here, but teams may find him so desirable to give him more term than usual/expected to fend off other suitors.”
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The Maple Leafs shook off a lot of their postseason demons in 2025, but not all of them.
They’ll also be a new-look team next season with the presumed departure of two-way wing star Mitch Marner.
Marchand is old, yes, but he’s still a star. He’d also add immense veteran leadership and know-how to a team that could still use it.
Bruins fans certainly wouldn’t like seeing Marchand in blue, but that might be the way this is trending if he decides to leave Florida.
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