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Elliotte Friedman Links Brad Marchand to One Specific Canadian Team in Free Agency

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated May 19, 2025 11:25 AM ET

NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman is actually linking current Panthers forward Brad Marchand to a surprising team - the club he just helped beat, the Maple Leafs.

Once again, the Toronto Maple Leafs have fallen short and are left picking up the pieces after another excruciating Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Maple Leafs were beaten by the divisional foe Florida Panthers, whom they had beaten twice to open the series, only to lose the next 3 games before soon forcing a Game 7.

Playing a major role in their win over the Maple Leafs was Brad Marchand, the former captain of the Boston Bruins, who was traded to Florida at the Trade Deadline.

Marchand scored the overtime GWG against the Maple Leafs in Game 3, robbing the Maple Leafs of their chance to take a 3-0 series Lead. He also had 3 points (1G, 2A) on Sunday night in the Game 7 win.

Could the unthinkable happen this summer, and Marchand, who is a pending UFA, actually decide to join the Leafs?

During his most recent '32 Thoughts' podcast, top NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman opined that the Maple Leafs could actually take a run at Marchand during the summer.

Marchand is in the final year of his 8 year, $49 million contract he signed with the Bruins in 2016 with an AAV (average annual value) of $6,125,000.

He's been a Leafs killer throughout his entire career, and has now become the 1st player in NHL history to win 5 consecutive Game 7s against a single club, with the first 4 coming as a member of the Bruins in 2013, 2018, 2019, and 2024.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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