July 1: The Panthers have confirmed the six-year deal for Marchand while not disclosing financial terms. The exact cap hit is $5.25MM, per PuckPedia.
June 30, 6:20 p.m.: Unsurprisingly, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Marchand’s new contract is heavily frontloaded. He’ll make just $1MM in base salary each year, and the rest will be paid out in signing bonuses. For trade protection, LeBrun indicated that he’ll get a full no-movement clause for the first four years before transitioning to a modified no-trade clause in the final two years.
4:13 p.m.: The Panthers are signing winger Brad Marchand to a six-year extension “just under” $32MM in total, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The cap hit will be roughly $5.3MM.
Shockingly, after reportedly agreeing to a new long-term contract with defenseman Aaron Ekblad earlier today, the Panthers were able to retain all three of their prominent pending unrestricted free agents. For Ekblad and Marchand, Florida re-signed both on extremely team-friendly deals, in terms of their salary.
Still, it’s difficult not to question the terms of Marchand’s new contract. The two-time Stanley Cup champion is entering his age-37 season, meaning he’ll be 43 upon expiration. It’s quite uncommon for a player of Marchand’s age to sign a deal of such length. Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins could be the only recent comparable, signing a six-year extension beginning in his age-35 season.
In Marchand’s defense, he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. Since turning 30 years old ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, Marchand has scored 198 goals and 521 points in 498 games with a +104 rating, averaging 19:02 of ice time per game. He’s received multiple votes for the Hart Memorial Trophy and Frank J. Selke Trophy in that time.
His postseason performances have been equally impressive. In that same time frame, Marchand has scored 45 goals and 98 points in 96 postseason contests between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers with a +23 rating. His playoff excellence came to a head a few weeks ago, finishing second place in Conn Smythe Trophy voting behind teammate Sam Bennett after the Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Now, by keeping Marchand for the foreseeable future, the Panthers will not only have a formidable top-six to stagger opposing teams, but will continue to have a third line that few teams will be able to match up against.
It’ll be interesting to see how General Manager Bill Zito fits the rest of Florida’s group with nearly $20MM doled out to Bennett, Ekblad, and Marchand. There will be more clarity on the Panthers’ salary cap picture tomorrow. They’ll need to find space for new deals for forward Mackie Samoskevich and netminder Daniil Tarasov. Still, they can rest easy knowing all the key players from their most recent Stanley Cup championship team are returning next season.
lol what? 6 years?
I thought it would bring down the cap hit and it really didn’t that much haha
to massage the AAV probably
he was reportedly going to be offered 4/36 (9aav) from Toronto
Who tf reported that?
Bizz lol
Tang it likely brought the cap hit down at least 2 million. he was getting 7.5 from someone
Bahahaha
Six years is insane and the Panthers will probably be rebuilding in five years by the time these extensions are nearing the end. But who cares I guess if you can add on another cup or two before then.
they have their core locked up until at least 2030.. and all but marchand are under 30
ekblad is a fragile 30
Ekblad looked pretty sturdy in the playoffs.
Welp Florida is going all in on the next 2 years
8 years… next 8 years lol… they have the core locked up until 2030-32… Bennett is 2033
it’s smart by Zito. he knows they were clearly the best team, and they know the cap is still going up next two years so these low aav deals will help leave room in 2026 for FA
6 years. So he’s essentially gone to Florida to retire?
probably 6 to massage the lower aav
Lots of folks do. ;)
Near, that’s why we are here
Bill Zito needs to go do the national budget, and run for president at this point haha wow…. LETS GO RATS!!!
WHAT A JOKE!!!! Piss poor cap management.
they have a championship roster locked up for 6-8 years and they will have 20+ mill in cap space next off season…. been under a rock? lol
They gonna have 30 mill next season with all there best player lock up loool
its probably closer to 20 than 30 next summer after these signings.. and they’ll need 5-8 aav for bob out of that
Sparky you need to sit down and put the keyboard away.
poor cap management? he literally got his 3 key FAs signed before free agency, is a two time defending cup winning gm and knows the cap will continue to go up the next 2-3 years min. sure maybe years 5/6 don’t age well especially if he retires in 3-4, but if they win another cup, no one will care
unless Bob retires. he is 38.
Hahahahaha!!!!!!!
A rebuild is coming before another cup. Horrific cap management, This behavior by Zito is called Stanley Cup drunk.
Marchand’s deal won’t age well starting next season.
maybe a rebuild comes before another cup, but that’s not the flex you think. many teams rebuild before wining a cup. only one can win per year.
you’ve said this about every deal. you talk like a 18/980s player who’s mad that players now get paid so much more.
Sparky that is at least twice today that you have made an ignorant statement. You have to stop this competition between you and @feel the teardrops for stupidest comment on the web. You are both winners.
This seems like cap circumvention, right? He’s not going to play to age 43. I thought there were limits on contracts for over 35 players?
probably not far off in your guess there.. but who could prove that?
How do you know that he won’t be playing at 43?
Dang, league going to approve this deal?
Ekblad and Marchand, combined: $11.4 mil a year
Bouchard: $10.5 mil a year
Obviously the term is different, but both of these teams want to win now, not in 2030. And the difference in how they’re putting it together is stark.
Ekblad and Marchand’s deals won’t exist for any other team.
6 years?!? LOL! Good on a 37 year old Brad Marchand for suckering GM Barry Zito on this deal.
Florida is basically riding on these next few years at best in hopes to keep their playoff/championship window open. These deals with Bennett, Ekblad, Marchand & such (the types of players they are) are going to age so poorly & be dead weight contracts sooner rather than later. Actually, if Florida doesn’t win another championship in the next 2 seasons (odds are not in their favor technically speaking as they’ve hit their peak & the descent is only a matter of time) these deals will already look bad. I guess only time will tell how it plays out. Florida is taking a big gamble IMO.
I fear the success of the Panthers is going to turn you into Gollum, lol!
if the Lightning were able to do what zito just did 3-4 years ago you would have never stfu about it lol.. don’t be a hypocrite…. last time I talked to you on here you wanted to bet me $$$ the lightning would beat the panthers in 7 lol
He is very good at guaranteeing predictions. It is the accountability part that he is deficient.
@Gbear – I’m actually being quite objective in my theory. I know that’s hard for you to understand since you seem to suck on everything Florida does. Are you sure you’re a Nashville fan again?
FeeltheBlunder is a sad individual to be pitied. Seek counseling.
@jeremyn – First off, you’re full of sh*t. I never wanted to bet money with you. Stop lying, dude!
Secondly, I wouldn’t be happy signing any of these 3 players to these deals. You would have to be a rose-colored idiot to like these deals if you’re a fan of Florida. My theory in my OP is correct. I know objectivity is hard for you because you’re ignorant fanboy but it’s a reality you’ll soon face.
Wow, attempting to go for it again after three consecutive finals appearances and back-to-back Cups? Thanks for unlocking this mystery. Glad that you are on the case. Maybe you are new to hockey, and sports in general, but this is what franchises do when they are winning.
@Doghockey – What you blabbing about?…I was giving an observation you buffoon. Yeah I know they’re trying to run it back, genius. I guess you have a hard time understanding this is a comment board where people give their opinions. I wasn’t trying to unlock some mystery, but I guess you’re pretending of being some sort of keyboard warrior. You failed, miserably.
@Gbear – Pitied and seek counseling? LOL! Look in the mirror, you dumb bear. You’re the one attacking me for giving my opinion (a rather objective one at that) & practically replying to everyone’s comment on here like a deranged mad man because you don’t like their remark. I thought Nashville was your team but apparently you’re just a bandwagon fan which shows your a total flake.
(Your opinion is far from objective)
Careful Bear @feel the teardrops will block you. He has a hard time taking a chirp or two.
#SCtoMaraLago
Does @ feel the teardrops actually believe some of this Sh#t coming out of his mouth? I have a better idea for his team. Start the rebuild now because it is going to be a pretty futile effort for the next five or six years.
Yeah… but he doesn’t turn 38 until the end of year one.
In light of the Florida dynasty taking shape in front of our eyes and the fact that McDavid wants to win now, EDM can say goodbye to him next season.
“But Zito can’t do this!”. LOL!
When the best GM in the league says he’s getting it done, believe him.
Yeah I can’t say I’m a fan of this one. Marchand was great in the playoffs, but he was kinda flat in the regular season. And that’s at 37, not at 40.
Not really keen on Ekblad and Bennet long-term either. Good players, but they’re a risk signing long-term.
I guess it depends how you look at it though. If you’re signing these guys as a reward for winning the Cup, I get it. If you’re signing them because you think they’re gonna raise the Cup in 2029… I dunno man.
I’m sure they’ll be fine if they win the Cup in 2026, 2027 & 2028. :)
Sorry but what happened to 2026, 2027 and 2028? Is the NHL on strike all 3 of those seasons? I’d agree that any of those deals could get a bit messy starting in 2029 but what other teams are we grading based on success in 2029? And how many of those teams won the cup the last 2 years? Things can always turn south but this team should be very scary the next 3 years.
Florida will he rebuilding before they lift another cup.
You keep telling yourself that.
Never forget that drapes are designed for privacy, Not smoking.
@Sparky . You are right , they will be rebuilding, but that is Before Canada wins another cup. If ever. Everything runs through Florida from now on. Why would anyone want to get taxed to hell up North? Idiot fans, Idiot media, horrible weather. Players have finally realized that.
VAMOS GATOS!!!
Well they’ll always have the sun & great memories- chances of repeating after 3 straight years of extra-long seasons, two wild parties & various endurance related ailments, no way this returning group of panthers will win another. Time waits for no one & it’s hard to know when to say goodbye, so Zito’s decision to run it back whole is idealistic and a recipe for schadenfreude…
Your entire comment is schadenfreude. And smells like something else. Haters keep hating
The three-peat is really hard given the playoff grind. Throw in the loss to Vegas, that’s 3 straight deep runs.
In fairness though, these Panthers are the only team to make 3 straight Finals playing full seasons since the 1980s Oilers.
You should google schadenfreude
Who’s gonna tell Zito about the Marchand deal when Bill regains consciousness?
Lord Stanley. Seriously though, go and eat some ice cream or have an edible orgo for a walk or something to feel some joy, because you have done nothing but spread negativity all day. Life is about finding joy and sports don’t actually matter.
Wonder if anyone takes a run at Samoskevich with an offer sheet.
Age 43 Jagr,Selänne,Chara,Recchi and 3-5 more
All 8 Panthers fans treating these deals like their gospel immune to criticism. Bennett is a physical player who WILL get roughed up every game he’s in for his antics. Ekblaad too (if he isn’t suspended again for doing peds). Marchand is old. When was the last time a player entered their age 38 season at 5 mil and actually producing? Even if the cap goes up the next few seasons they’ll either have to overpay retirement Bob or find a replacement. That’s a big chunk of money right there. And just as the cap will increase, so will asking prices. What happened to the Blackhawks after Kane and Teows and Crawford? What about the Pens after Crosby and Malkin? Bolts with Hedman/Stamkos/Kucherov? No matter how good they looked in the postseason it’s hard to win three in a row. Other teams will formulate special plans specifically for the Panthers.
Anyways I’m happy Florida signed them all because they can slowly decline together elbowing and headhunting guys together until retirement.