It was just a few months back that the former Boston Bruins captain, Brad Marchand, was traded to the Florida Panthers. “It was disappointing things didn’t get done, just because I love the organization and wanted to stay there. But I know this is a business and every player has a shelf life,” he said after his first media interview, donning the red and blue and representing his new team. But with the way he’s been performing in the postseason, it’s like he’s been a Panther for years.

Because Marchand brought with him over 1,000 games of experience, with 980 career points, and the kind of fire that doesn’t seem to diminish with age. After all, since his joining with Florida, he has played in 14 playoff games, scoring 3 goals and providing 9 assists. “You guys won’t like hearing this, but there’s a Brad Marchand effect there,” said head coach, Paul Maurice.

The Marchand effect can be felt even beyond the rink. Not only did he send a ripple through the locker room, but he also proved to be an excellent get for the front office. And this was not only a calculated risk but also a bold move from GM Bill Zito that helped elevate his standing among the league’s elite executives, thereby underlining his leadership with recognition and acclaim.

Sportsnet on X dropped the latest update—“Kevin Cheveldayoff, Jim Nill, and Bill Zito are the finalists for the 2024-25 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award 👏.” Now that’s the credit he finally deserves, right? After all, landing Brad Marchand has helped put Zito in contention for this first big-time honor! This nomination marks his fourth in five years since taking over the Panthers, and isn’t that a testament to Florida’s rise as a perennial playoff force? It certainly is. After all, under Bill Zito’s leadership, Florida reached at least the second round for four straight seasons and is currently battling the Carolina Hurricanes in their third consecutive Eastern Conference Final appearance.

Let’s not even say battling, because the Cats have again dominated the series, leading 2-0 already. This year saw many new player entries as well as, but Zito, with his eye for talent and business acumen, has built a champion caliber roster

“It’s not always the most expensive or least expensive. It’s the best fit for that part,” said Zito. Our guys have done a fantastic job of identifying people who would be a fit, and also at a price point we think we can get them in. Players have made sacrifices, too. You look across our roster, and the commitment from our guys has been to stay and be part of it. We’ve been blessed with that.” Hence, the question: who are the key players the general manager brought into the Panthers organization that are now thriving?

Brad Marchand isn’t alone in contributing to the GM’s overall success in the NHL

Alongside Bill Zito, it’s Kevin Cheveldayoff of the Winnipeg Jets and Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars who became the 2025 finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. But what’s worth bringing to notice is the fact that Marchand, alongside other crucial players, has contributed to Zito’s overall success. From acquiring the defenseman Seth Jones, with top-pairing capability and playoff composure, to Nico Sturm, a forward known for his dependable two-way play, the Panthers’ GM and his additions weren’t just about numbers on the board but more about building a team that could survive the grind of a long postseason!

But that wasn’t enough. Talk about his off-season signings, and Nate Schmidt, Tomas Nosek, Jesper Boqvist, and A.J. Greer, all added key depth and versatility, allowing the Panthers to maintain a strong blue line alongside Brad Marchand and despite losing key players. But wait, there’s more. Zito re-signed stars like Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, and Anton Lundell, who have been key performers for Florida throughout the season.

Hence, to conclude that Zito’s success this season wasn’t only an isolated result of one bold trade or standout performance but the culmination of years of smart roster building and decision-making, right? From signing someone like Marchand into an already-competitive system and then reinforcing leadership at every level of the organization, Zito has shaped the Florida Panthers into more than just a playoff contender now.