Video: Brad Marchand Names Runner-Up Team In His Free Agent Decision

Tuesday, January 06, 2026 ,

 

Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers forward

The Florida Panthers won the Brad Marchand sweepstakes in free agency this past summer, but the veteran forward now admits his choice was down to two teams. The runner-up was the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

"It was between Florida and Toronto," said the Nova Scotia-born Marchand, who grew up rooting for the Leafs. Then he went on to butter up the Toronto organization, while trolling the fans with comments about how they "ran Mitch Marner out of town."

It's usually a media circus when Marchand comes to Toronto, as the Panthers are set to play the Leafs Tuesday night. 

“As a group, they compete the right way. It’s unfortunate the fans ran Marner out of town, that’s a huge impact for their group. He’s a point-a-game player, that hurts. But, they're a great team, a great organization."

Marchand said Florida was an obvious choice for him, but Leafs were second choice

"I never thought it was a possibility to re-sign with Florida... But once the opportunity came up to sign here, it was kind of no question. It's where I wanted to be."

Marchand was traded at last year's deadline from the Boston Bruins, where he'd spent his entire 16-year career, to the Panthers. And the rest, as they say, is history. The Cats took the Leafs in seven games in the second round of the playoffs, then went on to a Stanley Cup triumph, the team's second straight. Marchand played a huge part in it all. 

There were plenty of rumors in late June that he was seriously considering coming to Toronto, but Panthers GM Bill Zito pulled an offseason miracle, re-signing all of his key free agents, in Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad.

As it stands going into Tuesday's game, both teams are on the outside looking in at the playoffs, with Florida two points up on the Leafs, but two points back of a Wild Card spot. 

Photo: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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