What a journey it’s been for Brad Marchand and the Florida Panthers. In the biggest enemies-to-lovers storyline in NHL’s recent history, Marchand hoisted his second Stanley Cup of his career in his first months with the Cats. However, this saga might be cut short as free agency looms and Marchand has yet to sign an extension. On that note, it was his son, Sloane Marchand, who might have given away his father’s plans.
After hoisting the franchise’s second Stanley Cup, Marchand and the Panthers have been through a grueling week. The party never stops in South Florida—and Marchand quickly learned that the saying isn’t just marketing hype.
However, fans can’t help but worry about Marchand’s future. His contract expires on July 1, and every contending team in the NHL has its eyes on him. Reaching an extension is crucial for Florida, but with the salary cap in play, it won’t be easy. To make it work, the Panthers may need some flexibility from Marchand.
Based on his son’s, Sloane, T-shirt during the Stanley Cup celebrations, Marchand is willing to make the effort for every piece to fall into place.
“Bring the boys back,” read Sloane Marchand’s T-shirt, which featured the faces of his father alongside teammates Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad—all of whom are set to become unrestricted free agents in July.
Marchand’s speech
After a week-long Stanley Cup championship celebration in South Florida, Marchand stood in front of the crowd at Fort Lauderdale Beach to give a sincere statement about his time with the Panthers.
However, he couldn’t help but make it Marchand-style, as he has been on an incredible run of public statements and social media posts lately. Marchand couldn’t be more grateful for how the 2024-25 NHL season turned out.
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“I got a lot to say. This has been unbelievable, I never could’ve imagined being a part of something so special,” Marchand said during the celebration. “I’m so happy that I don’t have to play against these guys anymore, and I’m so happy I don’t have to worry about getting knocked out by [Bennett], anymore.”