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Panthers' Brad Marchand Sends Unexpected Maple Leafs Message

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Dec 1, 2025 7:32 PM ET

With the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs set to reignite their rivalry on Tuesday in their first matchup since last year’s playoff series, Brad Marchand has delivered a rather unexpected message.

Marchand's statement from Monday is one that few would’ve expected from one of Toronto’s most notorious rivals, as the Panthers veteran pushed back on the suggestion that the Maple Leafs are in trouble.

“If you think that your playoff dreams are done 25 games in, you have bigger problems,” Marchand said. “I know they don’t think that in the room.”

Marchand mostly pointed to the intensity of Toronto’s media market as the main factor for the steady negative talk about the Leafs.

Brad Marchand on Leafs: "If people are thinking they're out of a playoff spot for the season they got to find a new job ...with the media attention & the fan support they have things get blown way out of proportion ... They're still a good contending team"https://t.co/30dGJC12CD
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 1, 2025

“Obviously, with the media attention and the fan support they have in Toronto, things get blown way out of proportion up there,” Marchand said.

Marchand, who scored eight points in last year’s seven-game series against the Leafs, added that Toronto’s position in the standings doesn’t mean that much with most of the season left to play.

“What are they, four points out of a playoff spot?” Marchand said. “If people are thinking they’re out of a playoff spot for the season, they gotta find a new job.”

Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) celebrates after winning the 2025 Stanley Cup.Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Marchand's comments come just months after the winger praised the Leafs’ defense and structure during their playoff meeting.

“They brought a lot of good pieces in at the deadline and the off-season to kind of adjust their back end,” Marchand said. “They're heavy back there. Obviously, their coaching has changed, and their structure is very good right now, especially in the D-zone. They're playing really well, and obviously their top guys are capitalizing on every opportunity.”

Despite drawing interest from Toronto in free agency, Marchand re-signed with Florida on a six-year deal following his Stanley Cup triumph with the Panthers. Marchand enters Tuesday’s game with 27 points in 23 contests.

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

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