Brad Marchand is gearing up to hit the unrestricted free agent market on July 1. This will be his first time exploring the open market after that unexpected midseason trade that took him from his long-time home in Boston to the Florida Panthers. During the 2024–25 season, the 37-year-old netted 23 goals and recorded out 28 assists across 71 regular-season games with both teams. Now that he’s wrapped up the last year of his eight-year, $49 million contract, Marchand’s experience and solid two-way game really make him a sought-after player.

The Panthers are in a bit of a tight spot with their budget, especially after giving Sam Bennett that hefty $64 million contract. Now, they have to figure out if they want to keep Marchand around, especially since both Boston and Toronto are gearing up to make some serious offers if he hits the free agency market. Marchand had an absolutely amazing NHL postseason but they also have Aaron Ekblad hitting free agency, meaning Florida’s front office has some important decisions to make.

In 23 playoff games with Florida, he scored 10 goals and 10 assists, finishing with an impressive +17 rating while the Panthers clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup. As for his career postseason statistics, Marchand has racked up 66 goals and 92 assists in 180 games, along with a +47 plus-minus. These stats really highlight his reputation as a clutch player who shines when the playoffs heat up. This definitely makes him a strong pick for any team looking for a veteran leader to add to their roster.

It seems like there are going to be plenty of options popping up for the star forward. Darren Dreger, the hockey insider, shared on X, “Credit to Utah Mammoth for what appears to be an aggressive approach this offseason. If Brad Marchand hits the open market tomorrow, look for Utah, Boston, and Toronto to among those with strong interest.”

It looks like the Mammoth’s war chest and front office are all set to go head-to-head with the established franchises, and Marchand might just find himself in the middle of a big bidding war soon. So, how’s the GM in Florida feeling about possibly keeping Marchand on the roster after winning the franchise’s second-ever Stanley Cup?

Florida Panthers GM gave an honest thought about keeping Brad Marchand

It’s not just Brad Marchand; you’ve got players like Aaron Ekblad, whose future with the Florida Panthers is still up in the air. At a recent press conference, GM Bill Zito mentioned, “Yeah. I have an idea. If what I think isn’t accurate, and it might not be, okay. You know, we have a Plan B and a Plan C. But my preference, and maybe I’m hoping, is that there’s enough for guys to want to stay to be part of this and be treated fairly and be happy, and that’s the most important thing.”

Zito has faced these questions about keeping players like Marchand and Ekblad in his squad before. So, Bennett’s future is all set, but with these two stars still not signed, there are a lot of questions hanging around Zito’s choices.

As usual, Zito has a few plans up his sleeve, but he really wants his team to stick together when it comes to making those tough calls. He hopes everyone on the current roster feels satisfied with what they have, especially since they’ll be back on the ice next season, ready to defend the Stanley Cup.