Veteran player Brad Marchand might end Toronto Maple Leafs' playoff dilemma—but at what cost?
Brad Marchand (via Getty Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs have endured Brad Marchand's frustrating exploits for more than a decade. Brad Marchand, along with his unparalleled capacity to incense his foes, has been Toronto's playoff demon, sending the Leafs packing five times—most recently in a comprehensively won 6–1 Game 7 against the Florida Panthers.
Now, with the divisive veteran set to hit unrestricted free agency, GM Brad Treliving has a tempting dilemma: Should the Leafs go get Brad Marchand at long last—or leave him alone?
Should the Toronto Maple Leafs pursue divisive veteran Brad Marchand in free agency
Now 37, Brad Marchand continues to show why he's one of the game's most consistent stars. He had 23 goals and 28 assists in 71 games with the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers this season, and has once more dialed it up during the playoffs with 17 points (7G, 10A) in 19 games going into the Stanley Cup Final.
But scoring is just half the story. Following the victory, Brad Marchand was surprised by showing a facet: he was raised a Leafs supporter.
THE TRADE THAT KEEPS ON GIVING 👏 Discussing Brad Marchand's impact in the Stanley Cup Final | SC
What would Brad Marchand bring to Toronto Maple Leafs
If Leafs management is serious about altering the team's playoff DNA, Brad Marchand is the guy. He's clutch, disruptive, and battle-hardened—exactly what a Leafs core that has underperformed when it needed to show up most lacks.
His playoff resume is among the best:
176 playoff games
155 points (63G, 92A)
2011 Stanley Cup champion
Toronto has about $25.7 million of estimated cap space coming into the offseason.
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With John Tavares' $11 million deal expiring after next season and Mitch Marner's $10.9 million perhaps being off the books, the Leafs are in a great position to make moves.
A reasonable goal for Marchand might be $7.5 to $8 million AAV—a substantial price for a player on the back end of his career. The Leafs took the same risk on Patrick Marleau, only to trade him and a first-round pick just to get rid of his $6.25 million cap hit.
Ultimate verdict: Calculated aggression or costly sentiment?
If the Leafs are in 'win-now or never' mode, Marchand makes sense. He'd bring swagger, experience, and playoff credibility to a team that's long lacked it. But anything more than two years or $7.5 million AAV could backfire, especially if his production dips.
Also read:
Brad Marchand's playoff dominance sparks free agency buzz as Panthers push for Stanley Cup glory
Toronto needs to stand strong against sentiment and nostalgia, no matter if Marchand grew up a Leafs supporter. The issue isn't whether he can assist next year. He can. The issue is, what's the price when he can't anymore?
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