While several veteran players are having a moment in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, one performance stands out—and the Toronto Maple Leafs should do whatever it takes to acquire its author when he becomes a free agent on July 1. That player is Brad Marchand, who has been a key contributor to the Florida Panthers’ postseason success.
The Ultimate Playoff PerformerThrough 22 playoff games, the 37-year-old has 10 goals and 10 assists. While many felt Marchand was a valuable acquisition for Florida at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, few could have imagined his impact would be this significant. He has been a focal point in these playoffs, establishing a psychological hold on the Maple Leafs from the very beginning of their second-round series.
Marchand scored the overtime winner in Game 3 against Toronto, a goal that shifted the series. Had the Leafs scored instead, they would have taken a 3-0 stranglehold; instead, the Panthers were back in it. After the game, Marchand trolled his opponents in the media. Referencing a past comment from former Leafs president Brendan Shanahan after Toronto’s 2021 playoff loss to Montreal, Marchand said of his own team:
“They have that killer instinct.”
We all know how that second-round series ended. Marchand, who admitted he was a Leafs fan growing up, improved his personal record to 5-0 in Game 7s against the Leafs.
Changing the DNA
If the Leafs are serious about changing the team’s “DNA,” as GM Brad Treliving suggested in his end-of-season autopsy, isn’t Marchand the perfect candidate? Sure, the Leafs don’t technically need another winger, especially since improving centre depth is a priority, but Marchand isn’t just another winger. Toronto needs to bring in established players who can change the dynamic and help them overcome their postseason barriers. Bringing in a personality like Marchand’s would certainly do that.
According to people who cover the Panthers, his presence has also taken media pressure off his teammates. Knowing that Marchand is always available and willing to provide a compelling quote satisfies any scribe’s need for content.
The Financial Question
Acquiring a player of Marchand’s caliber requires a significant investment, but the Leafs have the salary cap space and flexibility to make a competitive offer. Despite his age, Marchand is sure to want an increase from his previous average salary of $6.125 million. It might seem odd to suggest a huge raise for a 37-year-old, but he has been underpaid compared to others with his skillset. With the league’s salary cap going up, he will likely seek a substantial bump. Would an $8 million salary be sufficient to sign him? It probably would. But is that cap hit too much for the Leafs? They could try to lower the average annual value by extending the term, similar to deals for players like Chris Tanev or Yanni Gourde. The ultimate goal for the Leafs is to have these difference-makers available in the playoffs, where the salary cap is effectively nonexistent. Veteran forward Max Pacioretty admitted after the season that the Toronto Maple Leafs brought him in specifically for the playoffs. He scored the two most important playoff goals for Toronto. Both came in Game 6s: the first was the game-winner to get them past the Ottawa Senators, and the second helped them stave off elimination against Florida to send the series to a Game 7. Those are the critical moments, and everything the Leafs do should be with that in mind.
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