Brad Marchand reportedly won't be hitting NHL free agency after all.
The 37-year-old forward—a pending unrestricted free agent on July 1—appears to have signed a six-year extension with the Florida Panthers, per TSN and The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. The AAV of the deal is unknown, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports it could be a $32 million deal in total.
Marchand was set to be one of the more coveted players on the free-agent market, with Toronto reportedly being one of the frontrunners for the veteran forward. That doesn't happen now, though, with Marchand re-upping with the Stanley Cup-winning Panthers.
The Halifax, Nova Scotia native scored 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 playoff games with Florida after joining the club at the trade deadline via the Boston Bruins. Among the teams reportedly interested in his services in free agency were Toronto, Boston, Florida, and the Utah Mammoth.
Report: Maple Leafs Trade Mitch Marner's To Vegas Golden Knights, Agrees To Eight-Year Deal Worth $12 Million AAVMitch Marner is on his way to Las Vegas.
With Marchand now locked in with the Panthers, Toronto needs to look elsewhere for a forward, potentially the trade market. Earlier Monday, the Maple Leafs acquired Matias Maccelli from Utah for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027.
The pick could convert to a second-round draft pick in 2029, only if Maccelli records at least 51 points next season. The 24-year-old has one year left on his contract with an annual average value of $3.425 million.
The Maple Leafs have also reportedly traded Mitch Marner's negotiation rights to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nic Roy, per Friedman. Marner reportedly signed an eight-year deal with the club at an AAV of $12 million.
Maple Leafs Trade for Matias Maccelli: Why Toronto Acquired Winger From Utah MammothThe Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027, which will convert to a second-round draft pick in 2029 if Maccelli record at least 51 points in the 2025-26 NHL season.
Toronto also signed Steven Lorentz to a three-year extension on Monday. The AAV comes in at $1.35 million, totalling out at $4.05 million over three seasons.
(Top photo of Marchand: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)