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NHL Analysts Float Interesting Possibility for Brad Marchand in Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 10:13 AM ET

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand’s return to the Boston Bruins is back on the table four months after the franchise traded him away.

According to reports from TSN’s Darren Dreger and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Bruins remain interested in re-signing their former captain if he becomes a free agent on July 1.

Marchand, who was drafted by Boston in 2006, played 16 seasons with the Bruins before being dealt at the 2025 trade deadline to Florida for a conditional pick that became a first-rounder.

The 37-year-old went on to score 20 points in 23 playoff games and helped the Panthers lift the Stanley Cup for a second consecutive season.

As we wait to see Brad Marchand’s decision with Florida, several teams including Boston and Toronto hope to talk to him come Tuesday when the market opens, if he doesn’t re-sign with the Cup champs. The Bruins would certainly be open to bringing him back. But again, perhaps…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 29, 2025

“As we wait to see Brad Marchand’s decision with Florida, several teams, including Boston and Toronto, hope to talk to him come Tuesday when the market opens,” LeBrun wrote. “The Bruins would certainly be open to bringing him back.”

Dreger acknowledged that a return to Boston is unlikely but confirmed that a reunion is under consideration.

“There’s a long shot possibility, I describe it as a long shot, but it is a possibility that he could return to Boston,” Dreger reported.

Dreger on TSN talking Marchand: “There’s a long shot possibility, I describe it as a long shot, but it is a possibility that he could return to Boston…You could certainly envision Brad Marchand morphing into a coaching or management role with the Boston Bruins down the line”
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 30, 2025

Boston, with over $12.7 million in salary cap space, is in similar position to rivals like Florida ($11 million in cap space) or the Toronto Maple Leafs ($13.5 million).

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney declined to comment directly but admitted he had texted Marchand to congratulate him.

“The only comment that I’ll make is that I exchanged texts and congratulated Brad,” Sweeney said. “Beyond that, he’s a player on another team, so I have zero comment in that regard.”

The Panthers will most probably be forced to choose between bringing back Marchand or Aaron Ekblad, but not both, given their current cap space and the contract demands projected for those players.

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

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