Brad Marchand Reveals Which Team He Almost Left Panthers For

Brad Marchand remains one of the most integral members of the Florida Panthers since the Bruins traded the forward midway through last season. Over the course of the playoffs, he impressed South Florida scoring 20 points across 23 games to lead the franchise to their second Stanley Cup.

This season too, he remains in full form with 46 points in 40 games. But recently it was revealed that just a few months ago, Marchand came remarkably close to becoming a Toronto Maple Leaf. The Florida Panthers forward revealed that last summer's free agency decision came down to two teams.

According to Marchand himself, for a hot minute Toronto was ready to make a serious push had he reached the open market. But in the end, GM Bill Zito managed to keep the veteran winger in South Florida. But for Marchand, who grew up watching the Maple Leafs, the franchise nearly became his new home.

It Was Between Florida and Toronto

Chris Johnston reported that Marchand said it was between Florida and Toronto where he was going to go in free agency. The veteran forward didn't think staying with the Panthers would be possible because of their salary cap situation heading into the summer.

That assessment made sense given Florida's championship roster and the financial commitments required to keep key pieces together. Marchand believed the math simply wouldn't work for the Panthers to bring him back, which opened the door for other teams to pursue him.

Brad Marchand says "it was between Florida and Toronto where I was going to go" in free agency last summer. He didn't think it would be an option to stay with the #FlaPanthers because of their cap situation
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 6, 2026

Pierre LeBrun added crucial context to the situation, noting that the Leafs had an offer ready for Marchand had he hit July 1. Toronto was prepared to make their pitch to the veteran forward, but winning the Stanley Cup changed everything and shifted Marchand's priorities.

Cup Changed Everything

The championship made all the difference in Marchand's decision-making process. Once Florida found a way to make the money work despite their cap constraints, the choice became obvious for a player who had just experienced the ultimate team success.

Marchand explained his thinking in detail about why he initially doubted a return to Florida was feasible. "I never thought it was going to be possible to re-sign with Florida, I really didn't," he said. "Just with the guys we had up and stuff like that."

The Panthers had multiple players requiring new contracts or raises, making Marchand's return seem unlikely from a pure cap management perspective. But once the opportunity materialized, his decision became straightforward.

Leafs had an offer coming to him had he hit July 1, to be sure. But winning the Cup changed everything. https://t.co/ePRSMzBXDw
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 6, 2026

"Once the opportunity came up to sign here, it was kind of no question that's where I wanted to be," Marchand noted. "But just with where we were, I didn't think it was going to be able to happen."

What Toronto Missed

The revelation shows how close Toronto came to landing a proven veteran who brings scoring ability, leadership, and championship experience. Marchand would have provided exactly what the Maple Leafs have been searching for in free agency, a player who knows what it takes to win when the stakes are highest.

Instead, Florida found creative ways to manage their cap situation and keep their championship core together. Marchand stays with the defending champions, while Toronto continues looking for the missing pieces that can push them over the playoff hump.

The Maple Leafs will always wonder what might have been had Marchand reached free agency. But for Florida, keeping him represents another victory in their quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champs.

Make sure you bookmark Breakaway On SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!