Brad Marchand’s Panthers Future in Doubt Amid Florida’s Priorities, Claims Insider originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Florida Panthers are two wins away from winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup, and Brad Marchand has been instrumental to their playoff push.
Since arriving from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline, the 37-year-old winger has turned back the clock, scoring eight goals and 18 total points in 20 postseason games and proving he still belongs on hockey’s biggest stage.
Amid another impressive playoffs, however, there is still the question of Marchand’s future as he approaches free agency on July 1.
Marchand’s future in Florida looms large, and odds are he leaves the peninsula, however, if only because of the tight cap situation the Panthers will face this offseason.
Is this an off season like no other? Why are there so few selling teams? Let me explain. Plus the latest on on a number of fronts as the summer market heats up. My latest Rumblings for @TheAthletic ⤵️ https://t.co/PPiTUG6Mjf
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 11, 2025
The winger’s contract is set to expire on July 1, and he’ll become an unrestricted free agent unless the Panthers reach a new deal between the end of the finals and that date.
That, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston, looks unlikely.
The franchise is reportedly leaning toward prioritizing other unrestricted free agents — namely, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad — this summer over Marchand.
“The door isn’t closed on staying with the Florida Panthers,” LeBrun wrote. “But with pending unrestricted free agent and Conn Smythe contender Sam Bennett a top priority for the Panthers, and Aaron Ekblad also a pending UFA, it’s probably most likely Marchand is going to market.”
LeBrun said Marchand could command a three- or four-year deal worth north of $8 million per season.
“It’s not like he doesn’t love it there,” Johnston said. “It just really is going to come down to just, unfortunately, cold, hard business.”
In fact, LeBrun’s floated term and price — especially with Florida holding just $19 million in projected cap space — would leave little room to re-sign other pending free agents.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.