Brad Marchand’s Seven-Word Comment on Maple Leafs Speculation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Florida Panthers veteran Brad Marchand isn’t shutting down the Toronto Maple Leafs talk, just under two weeks from entering free agency.
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Marchand is coming off a postseason where he posted 10 goals and 20 points in 23 games, helping the Panthers secure their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
The veteran will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after completing his eight-year, $49 million contract.
Marchand only needed seven words and a comment on Instagram to NHL insider Nick Kypreos’ bold prediction that he’ll sign with Toronto to fuel all sorts of speculation.
“(Expletive) dawg… the people wanna see it?” Marchand wrote, reacting to the insider’s comments about his potential signing with Toronto.
That comment follows Kypreos’ appearance on “Leafs Morning Take” on Friday, where he said Marchand’s signing with the Maple Leafs is the only possible outcome of the veteran’s free agency.
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“I don’t know how he doesn’t end up as a Maple Leaf,” Kypreos said.
The insider argued that Marchand, underpaid on his last deal while still with the Boston Bruins, will be looking to make up for lost earnings, and no team can offer more financially or commercially than Toronto.
Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Marchand’s 10 goals and 20 points in 23 playoff games this spring reaffirmed his value. At 37, he remains one of the league’s most clutch postseason performers, with 158 points in 180 playoff games.
While the Panthers are still considered contenders to re-sign Marchand, the Leafs are considered serious players in the race, depending on how they handle their own pending free agents.
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Toronto is projected to have over $25 million in cap space and has been open about its need to change its “DNA,” as general manager Brad Treliving put it, but that cap room already has Mitch Marner’s $10.9 million and John Tavares’ $11 million removed from it.
Related: Panthers’ Brad Marchand Addresses Future Immediately After Winning Stanley Cup
Related: Panthers GM Reveals Offseason Spending Plans Ahead of Free Agency
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.