Brad Marchand and the Florida Panthers simply seem meant to be together in the NHL. After a superb postseason run, the veteran chose to look nowhere else for his future, opting instead to stay with Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and company. However, reports suggest there may have been even bigger offers on the table had he tested unrestricted free agency.
When something is right, one knows it right away. That’s exactly how the unexpected reunion between Marchand and the Panthers felt. The two parties clicked right away, and it led to the organization’s second Stanley Cup in as many years.
Now, the Cats will vie to run it back. Bennett has been inked to an eight-year extension, joining Tkachuk and many other talents who will be under contract through the 2029-30 campaign. The path to a dynasty has been set—even in the salary cap era.
That’s exactly what drove Marchand to re-sign with the Panthers. Beyond the trips to Dairy Queen and the friendships he’s built, Marchand has found a home in Sunrise. Florida offers a shot at immortality—and that far outweighs the lucrative contracts he passed up. Those offers weren’t cheap either, as reports claim the 37-year-old could have signed one of the biggest deals of the 2025 NHL free agency.
Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers warms up before a game against the before playing the Edmonton Oilers in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
According to insider Chris Johnston, one team interested in Marchand even considered offering the veteran a contract with an average annual value of $10 million.
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NHL News: Bill Zito, Panthers reward Brad Marchand by reuniting him with former Bruins teammate after long-term extension
Up to the neck
The Panthers’ handling of Bennett, Marchand, and Ekblad’s extensions served as a masterclass for every GM in the league. However, it has now put Cats against the ropes heading into the 2025-26 NHL season. General managerBill Zito made sure to forewarn Tkachuk and company following the long-term extensions handed out.
“We’re gonna be right at the cap this year and it’s gonna be tight,” Bill Zito said on the Pat McAfee Show. “Our core is locked up until 2030 and with the cap going up we’ll be able to make additions.”
In no hurry to leave
After re-signing Marchand, Bennett, and Ekblad, the Panthers now have ten players under contract through at least 2030, keeping them in Sunrise for the long haul. The stars will be shining bright at Amerant Bank Arena.
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Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones, Carter Verhaeghe, Brad Marchand, and Anton Lundell are all under contract for at least the next five NHL seasons. Such a powerful core can only mean bad news for the rest of the league. A dynasty could be brewing—unlike anything the NHL has ever seen before.
