Bruins Get Discouraging Update on Brad Marchand's Free Agency
Bruins Get Discouraging Update on Brad Marchand's Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Brad Marchand remains locked in on trying to help the Florida Panthers win their second straight Stanley Cup, but the 37-year-old winger is also approaching free agency.
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Traded from the Boston Bruins to Florida at this year's deadline, Marchand is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and has started to field questions about his future.
Marchand is coming off the final season of the eight-year, $49 million contract extension he signed with the Bruins in 2016.
In the mid-season trade that sent him to Florida, the Bruins netted a conditional 2027 second-round pick, but it's fair to say the Panthers have benefited the most from the move as Marchand has since become a central figure in the Panthers' playoff run, scoring 17 points in 19 postseason games.
Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) in action with the Boston Bruins at the American Airlines Center.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Despite his past with the Bruins, a return to Boston appears unlikely. Appearing on ESPN's SportsCenter on Sunday, NHL insider Emily Kaplan reported that the organization has moved on.
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"From talking to sources around the league, it is likely that he is going to test the open market," Kaplan said. "Yes, the Panthers do remain in play, but several other teams do too.
"A return to the Boston Bruins — that door remains closed for now."
Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) in action with the Boston Bruins at the American Airlines Center.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Marchand himself acknowledged that he's considering a return to Florida, though his priority remains winning the Cup. He did so in an interview with fellow ESPN reporter Greg Wyshynski on Sunday.
"I mean, yeah, I've thought about it," Marchand said. "But we'll deal with that in the future.
Game 3 between the Panthers and the Oilers for the Stanley Cup is scheduled for Monday in Sunrise, FL, with puck drop set at 8 p.m. ET.
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Related: Brad Marchand's Candid Admission About Panthers' Game-Winning Goal
Related: Oilers' Corey Perry Sends 'Tough' Message After 2OT Loss to Panthers
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
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