Brad Marchand has already proven that age is just a number during this year’s Stanley Cup Final. But while the veteran winger’s focus is locked on helping the Florida Panthers chase hockey’s biggest prize, he’s also eyeing another deeply personal goal.
At 37, Marchand isn’t just playing for a championship; he’s playing for a chance to wear the Team Canada jersey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. After missing out on the last two Olympic Games during the prime of his career, he said it bluntly: “We got robbed.” Now, with time running out, Marchand is leaving no stone unturned to chase what could be his final shot at Olympic glory.
Brad Marchand Still Hungry for Olympic Dream After Years of Disappointment
Marchand is no stranger to high-pressure hockey. From clutch playoff moments to elite international play, his resume speaks for itself. But for all his accolades, one dream remains frustratingly unfinished: representing Canada on Olympic ice.
Despite being one of the league’s most consistent competitors, Marchand was denied the chance to compete at both the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics due to the NHL’s decision to skip those Games.
“I feel like we got robbed of going to the last two,” Marchand recently admitted, speaking openly about the frustration that still lingers. “It’s an opportunity that I never ever thought that I would even come close to having… To be considered for that Olympic team is such a completely different level than anything you could ever really dream of when you’re younger.”
Canada Olympic hockey: Projecting the men’s First 6, big questions about the rest of the roster https://t.co/lJwy1dDEQr
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) June 12, 2025
His Olympic ambitions were first fueled by a stellar showing at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where he starred for Team Canada alongside Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron. That tournament was seen as a preview of future Olympic excellence, one that never came. Now, with Milan 2026 fast approaching, Marchand is determined to make his mark on the world stage.
Even at 37, he’s doing everything possible to stay in the conversation. His postseason play with the Panthers, where he’s been just under a point-per-game, has shown he still has the skill, drive, and hockey IQ to compete at the highest level.
But it hasn’t been easy. Marchand’s 2024–25 regular season was disrupted by health issues that stemmed from three offseason surgeries to repair damage to his elbow, groin, and abdominal area.
The procedures forced him to miss three months of training and ultimately impacted his production, which dipped to 51 points across 71 games split between Boston and Florida.
Still, that hasn’t dimmed his resolve. While Marchand is unlikely to be among the first six players named to Team Canada’s roster this week, he’s still in serious contention for a spot on the final 25-man lineup to be announced by December 31.
He’s making sure of that by pushing himself harder than ever. Once the Stanley Cup ends, Marchand says he’ll take just a couple of days off before diving right back into offseason training.
