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Brad Marchand Fires Back at Maple Leafs Nickname After Making NHL History

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 19, 2025 8:15 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ season ended abruptly on Sunday following yet another Game 7 loss, this time 6-1 against the Florida Panthers.

After making NHL history with a fifth career Game 7 win over the Maple Leafs, Panthers forward Brad Marchand was given a new label by a reporter in the postgame media scrum: "Maple Leafs Executioner."

Marchand quickly rejected the idea.

“I appreciate that, but no, I don't look at it that way," Marchand quickly responded. "If you look at the past, I haven’t played well in Game 7s against Toronto. No one player wins anything.

"I’ve just happened to be part of good teams who have had the upper hand, but if you historically look at the games, I didn’t play well. It wasn’t me that beat them, it was our teams.

Brad Marchand (1-2—3) improved to 5-0 against Toronto in Game 7s and boosted his career #Game7 totals to 4-6—10, passing Alex Ovechkin (4-4—8) for the most points among active players. #StanleyCup #NHLStats: https://t.co/wIqWJiont4 pic.twitter.com/oXyTDGhaMl
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 19, 2025

"Our teams have always been really deep and good, and I am fortunate to be part of a really, really deep team here right now. So, I don’t look at it that way.”

Marchand scored once and added two assists in Florida’s Game 7 win at Scotiabank Arena, sending the Panthers to a third straight Eastern Conference Final.

He became the first player in NHL history to win five Game 7s against a single franchise, four with the Boston Bruins and one now with Florida.

Brad Marchand speaks about his Game 7 record against the Maple Leafs pic.twitter.com/CKcu3zlKGx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 19, 2025

Despite reaching such a unique milestone and becoming a legitimate thorn in Toronto's side, Marchand praised his teammates for carrying him there.

“We’re a really good, deep team, too, and that’s how things go sometimes,” Marchand said. “I got lifted up by the guys around me.”

The Panthers broke the game open in the second period after a goalless opening frame with three unanswered goals in a 6:24 span.

Toronto’s lone goal came from Max Domi early in the third before Florida pulled away again with three more goals, including Marchand's empty-net capper.

Florida moves on to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final beginning Tuesday and aiming at winning the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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