Few players have seen their free-agency stock rise as dramatically in a short period as Brad Marchand`s has over the past four months.
Back in early March, the 37-year-old winger captained a Boston Bruins team facing the prospect of missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. Negotiations with the only NHL team he`d ever played for had reportedly stalled, as the Bruins transitioned away from the core leadership of the Zdeno Chara-Patrice Bergeron era. Marchand`s individual season was considered average at that point, and he was among Canada`s less-utilized forwards at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
The trade deadline brought a significant change: a move to Florida provided him with an opportunity to re-establish his elite status on the sport`s grandest stage.
Following a series of clutch performances en route to a championship, Marchand heads into free agency as a highly desirable player, his playoff heroics solidifying his reputation as a premier performer when the stakes are highest.
During Florida`s championship campaign, the seasoned forward finished fourth in playoff goals and tenth in overall points. Among all players, only Leon Draisaitl recorded more game-winning goals than Marchand (wearing No. 63). However, it was in the Stanley Cup Final where Marchand truly excelled, burying six goals in six contests against the Edmonton Oilers. Only his teammate Sam Reinhart surpassed him in Final goals, and notably, four of Reinhart`s seven series goals came in the decisive final game.
Tristan Blackwood