If Brad Marchand hits the open market on Tuesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs will reportedly be among several teams interested in the forward's services. And likely one of the frontrunners to land him.
The Athletic and TSN insider Pierre LeBrun reported on Sunday morning that while Marchand could return to Florida, the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, his former club, hope to speak with the forward if he's a free agent on July 1.
Further to that report, TSN's Darren Dreger appeared on TSN 1050's First Up with Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo on Monday morning, adding to LeBrun's report, which came a day earlier.
"This is very much a personal decision. The family influence is strong for Brad Marchand, his wife, and his children. I mean, most still believe he's going to stay in Florida, that Bill Zito's going to find a way to get it done," Dreger said.
"As Pierre LeBrun alluded to, I believe yesterday on X, there's a world where you could see Marchand going back to Boston. And if that happens, I suspect that the term would be longer, not that it would play out, but primarily, that decision, if it went that way, would be because of what I just said. Just the pull of family, right?
"But Toronto is in the conversation, no doubt about it. As long as Toronto can be in the conversation. If all of a sudden, on the open market tomorrow, Brad Marchand says I need $8.5-9 million from the Maple Leafs, I'm not so sure they can make that happen."
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Dreger also reported on X that the Utah Mammoth could be a team that targets the veteran forward if he becomes a free agent.
Everyone remembers Marchand's Stanley Cup playoff with the Florida Panthers: 10 goals (two of which were overtime winners), 10 assists for 20 points in 23 games, and the moment he lifted the cup over his head again.
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Though at 37 years old, you have to wonder how much longer Marchand can play to that standard. However, teams like the Maple Leafs, who are in win-now mode, aren't really looking at the age factor too much. They want a Stanley Cup, and it appears they believe Marchand can help get them there.
"As far as I can gather, the Leafs’ biggest bet on July 1 is apparently going to be an attempt to sign Brad Marchand," The Athletic's James Mirtle wrote. "That would obviously eat up a huge percentage of their remaining cap space — likely in the $8 million range — with the understanding the 37-year-old would be a big part of their top-six for the next few years."
We'll see what transpires over the next 24 hours regarding Marchand's future, Mitch Marner's negotiation rights, which could be traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, and Matthew Knies' extension, that's not been made official yet.
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It's going to be a wild pre and start to free agency, which begins at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
(Top photo: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)
