Florida’s 6-1 drubbing of Toronto in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals was good news for the Bruins.
Boston sent captain Brad Marchand to the Panthers for a conditional 2027 second-round pick that could become a first-rounder. For that those conditions to be met, the Panthers needed to advance past the second round — which they accomplished Sunday night — and Marchand would have to dress in 50% of the postseason games.
Marchand has appeared in all 12 of Florida’s playoff games thus far, and the maximum they could play is now 26 games.
That means if Marchand dresses for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final (or any other game the rest of the way) the conditions will be met and Boston will land a first-round pick.
The conditions would also be met if the Panthers play fewer than 13 games the rest of the way and Marchand doesn’t play another second, but by dressing for one more game, it’s a guarantee.
The Panthers are certainly getting their money’s worth with Marchand.
The winger scored a goal and two assists in Toronto on Sunday night, improving to 5-0 in Game 7 matchups with the Maple Leafs. Marchand has thee goals and nine assists in 12 playoff games and has been a seamless fit with Florida.
Per PuckPedia, the first-rounder would either be in 2027 or 2028 depending on a couple factors. If it’s a 2027 pick, it’ll be Top 10 protected, whereas 2028 would be unprotected.
“Becomes 2027 1st if (Florida) wins 2 rounds and Marchand plays 50% of playoff games,” Puckpedia writes. “If pick converts to 2027 1st and either Florida’s 2027 1st transfers to Chicago (Seth Jones trade) or pick is in the top 10, then pick becomes 2028 1st.”
Florida’s first game of the Eastern Conference Finals is Tuesday night at 8 p.m. in Carolina.