Devils Should Target Brad Marchand In Free Agency
Certain NHL players are despised when playing against them but loved and adored as a teammate, and no player fits this mold more than 37-year-old Brad Marchand.
After appearing in 1090 NHL games with the Boston Bruins and eventually earning the captaincy, the organization traded him to the Florida Panthers ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.
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While the left winger is solely focused on the Eastern Conference Final and advancing to the Stanley Cup Final, hockey fans and media speculate where the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion will sign when free agency opens in July.
The New Jersey Devils should be one team that inquires about the veteran.
Dec 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (12) is congratulated by left wing Brad Marchand (63) after scoring against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
The Basics
Marchand's salary cap hit in 2024-25 was $6.125 million. Adding another Stanley Cup to his resume could increase his overall value, but keeping his age in mind, his next contract could very well be his last in the NHL.
For sentimental reasons, it makes sense that he returns to Boston to conclude his career in the city that drafted him in 2006. If the Panthers earn their second consecutive Stanley Cup, it is plausible that Florida will look to keep Marchand in the Sunshine State. It is worth noting that the Panthers' other unrestricted free agents include Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad.
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Those interested in the Devils' current salary cap situation can click here.
Why He Needs To Be A Target For The Devils
It is no secret that the Devils need to re-examine and alter their forward group this summer. General manager Tom Fitzgerald confirmed his roster will look different in September because the group he had "wasn't good enough."
Scoring outside New Jersey's core forwards was inconsistent, and it was one of the team's most significant concerns leading into the postseason, as well as one of their downfalls in the first round against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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In the postseason, the Devils primarily utilized Ondrej Palat as their top left winger and Erik Haula on the second line. Marchand's 51 points in the 2024-25 regular season was more than Palat (28) and Haula (21 points) combined.
In addition to providing much-needed offense, Marchand plays with a particular style of grit and physicality, becoming an actual pest to the opposition. The veteran checks a lot of boxes and could bolster New Jersey's middle-six and play up the lineup if needed.
There Will Be A High Demand For Marchand
If the Devils are interested in the former Bruin, they won't be the only ones. Marchand is valuable on and off the ice and would be an asset to any locker room.
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The players in the Panthers' locker room quickly embraced him, and in the postseason, Marchand has been a factor, collecting 12 points in 14 games.
After the trade deadline, Fitzgerald acknowledged he was runner-up for one player he sought after.
"You are in a fight into the 12th round," he said. "I don't want to say a knockout punch, it was a split decision. A player went to a different team. It was difficult, but that happens. You win some, you lose some. My goal from the get-go was to add to this group, and the player that I went after hard was that player, with or without Jack (Hughes). We were still trying to add that. We came in second."
Securing Marchand would immediately improve head coach Sheldon Keefe's roster and positively impact New Jersey's on-ice performance. While no one will know what will happen in free agency, one thing for sure is Fitzgerald can't afford to come in second this summer when New Jersey expects to make the playoffs and put together a run.
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