Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice admitted that he “didn’t appreciate” how good Brad Marchand was after Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and the veteran needed just 56 seconds to score against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3.
Brad Marchand has surprised Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice since his trade from the Boston Bruins(Image: Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confessed that he “didn’t appreciate” the skill level of Brad Marchand until after Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Meanwhile, Wayne Gretzky has been ranting about Florida’s reliance on icing the puck against the Edmonton Oilers.
The seasoned NHL player wasted no time in proving his worth, scoring against the Connor McDavid-led Oilers just 56 seconds into Game 3. Marchand joined the Panthers on March 7, following a trade from the Boston Bruins. Since then, the 37-year-old has been instrumental in Florida’s postseason success, helping them reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive year.
The experienced winger has been on fire, netting Florida’s last three goals in the series, including an overtime clincher in Game 2. With the series evenly poised after two games in Edmonton, Marchand gave the Panthers an ideal start and etched his name in the NHL record books.
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After scoring in the second period of a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Oilers in Game 1, and securing Florida’s first win of the series in Game 2, Marchand’s early goal in Game 3 shattered a 52-year-old NHL record. He became the oldest player to score in the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final.
The previous record was held by Frank Mahovlich, who set it in 1973 at age 35 while playing for the Montreal Canadiens against the New York Islanders. Marchand’s Game 2 performance drew high praise from his Panthers teammates, and even Coach Maurice conceded that he had underestimated him
“I didn’t appreciate how good his hands are,” Maurice remarked about Marchand. “They’re kind of in that Matthew Tkachuk mode. That’s a set of hands that’s at the top end. Those guys are special. He’s an exceptional man. Really enjoy having him.”
Marchand’s clincher in Game 2 marked his fifth-career playoff overtime goal, tying for third-most in Stanley Cup Playoffs history. “His anticipation and his hockey sense is unbelievable,” Panthers comrade Matthew Tkachuk observed.
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“You see it tonight with two breakaway goals: just seeing the play and he’s gone. I saw that a ton with him playing in Boston. Way better seeing it now.”
Defenseman Nate Schmidt chimed in: “He just finds a way. I don’t think the moment ever gets too big for him.”
Despite Marchand’s bright prospects in Florida, leaving Boston wasn’t part of his game plan, and the trade initially left him feeling sour. With free agency on the horizon post-Stanley Cup, Marchand’s failure to secure a contract extension with the Bruins prompted his exit.
The Panthers traded a conditional 2027 second-round NHL Draft pick to bring Marchand on board for their postseason push, yet his future with the team is up in the air. “Yeah, I’ve thought about it. But we’ll deal with that in the future,” Marchand responded when probed about staying with the Panthers.
Marchand was traded by the Bruins after failing to agree on a contract extension(Image: Getty Images)
Marchand has been laser-focused on the Stanley Cup Finals, putting free agency thoughts on ice for the sake of the Panthers. “The longest you can go is two weeks, so you’re in the moment that entire time,” he emphasized.
“You can’t have your mind in any other place other than right here and now. I’ve said it so often during this run: You have to enjoy these moments. They don’t come often. There’s no other thought in my mind right now.”