Brad Marchand is once again proving why he's one of the NHL's ultimate premier playoff performers. As an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the question must be asked: Should the Maple Leafs aggressively pursue the veteran player who consistently performs well against them?
At 37 years old, Marchand continues to be an effective producer. While he recorded 23 goals and 28 assists in 71 games split between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers, his playoff performance truly captures the spotlight. He has 63 goals and 92 assists in 176 playoff games and won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.
In his first playoff run with Florida, Marchand has tallied seven goals and 10 assists in 19 games. He has the ability to push his game to a new level at the most critical points in the playoffs. The Leafs are intimately familiar with this, having lost to Marchand in five consecutive Game 7s. He has consistently frustrated Toronto, not only with his statistics but also through psychological warfare, remaining a mentally disruptive force and clutch performer during high-stakes matchups.
Marchand recently told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that anything is on the table when asked if he would play for a Canadian team. It’s expected there will be numerous suitors at the conclusion of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
'I Grew Up A Leafs Fan': Panthers': Brad Marchand Owns Toronto Again, But Doesn't Believe Fans' Pressure Is JustifiedFlorida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones shook his head, agreeing with Brad Marchand after the veteran forward, who's now ousted the Toronto Maple Leafs from the playoffs on five separate occasions, said the fans beat the pressure into this team.
After Marchand’s team defeated the Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series, the player revealed he was a Leafs fan. It’s clear Marchand likes the big stage.
As Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving looks to “change the DNA” of his team this summer, a player like Marchand would certainly accomplish that goal. One could argue that if Marchand cannot be the force to shake up Toronto’s playoff woes, perhaps nobody (other than possibly Sam Bennett) can. Adding a player with Marchand’s grit, leadership, and playoff experience would undoubtedly benefit the Leafs. With 58 points in 59 career games against Toronto, adding Marchand would epitomize the 'if you can’t beat them, join them' strategy.
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But the crucial question is: What would be the cost?
The Leafs’ cap situation
Toronto is well-positioned to pursue a player like Brad Marchand, with a projected $25.71 million in cap space. With Mitch Marner ($10.9 million) likely to hit free agency, and a substantial savings from John Tavares’s $11 million salary cap hit (whether he stays or goes), the Leafs will be able to use that money to add some gritty forwards.
Regardless of Marchand's performance for the remainder of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, age will always be a significant concern. The last time the Leafs committed substantial money and term to a high-quality forward, they were subsequently forced to surrender a first-round pick in a trade to create salary space. This occurred when they signed a then-37-year-old Patrick Marleau to a deal with an average annual value of $6.25 million.
Tanev, Gourde Contracts And Deferred Money Provide A Blueprint For Maple Leafs To Re-Sign John TavaresJohn Tavares wants to stay in Toronto. The former Maple Leafs captain made that clear when speaking to reporters shortly after his team was eliminated in the second round at the hands of the three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. This desire, coupled with the Maple Leafs' cap constraints, begs the question: How can both sides find common ground? Reportedly, the Maple Leafs would welcome him back, but not at the hefty $11 million per season salary cap hit that came with his first contract in Toronto. Recent contracts signed by other players offer a compelling glimpse into potential solutions.
The key difference between the two players lies in their playoff performance, and that distinction will command a premium for Marchand, who could seek an average annual value of $7.5 to $8 million in a new deal.
Is that too much for Toronto? Perhaps. However, they might commit to a longer term to lower the average annual value, acquire the player, and address the ramifications later, similar to their approach with contracts like Chris Tanev’s six-year, $27 million deal last summer.
Even with available cap space, the Leafs still need to be conscious of how they spend it. Twenty-two-year-old Matthew Knies is due a substantial raise. Finding another center remains a priority for the Leafs, and Sam Bennett could be more expensive than Marchand, strictly based on role and age.
Nothing More Than $7.5M AAV
Ideally, the Leafs would not offer Marchand anything more than two years at $7.5 million in average annual value. If they were to add a third year to lower the AAV, that would make sense, aligning with a deal similar to Marleau’s, especially since all indications suggest Marchand will eventually age out. While he is performing well, you have to look at some of the facts. Beyond his age, Marchand is optimized in Florida by playing on the third line. There has to be a sense of not wanting to overpay for a third-line contributor, particularly one who is nearing the end of his career.
But there's no doubt Marchand would help Toronto next season. Given the club's 'win-now' window, they could be quite aggressive.
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