Thanks to the NHL’s revision of rules, which now requires teams to be salary cap compliant even during the playoffs, teams cannot use the LTIR to make sneaky deals at the trade deadline. Thankfully for the Florida Panthers, the rule came into effect after they acquired Brad Marchand, who has since emerged as a cornerstone of the franchise.
After the Panthers lifted the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive time in 2025, the veteran winger made it clear that he wants to continue playing with the team. Bill Zito granted his wish by handing a contract extension that is nothing short of impressive for Marchand’s age. However, there is more to the hurried trade at the deadline than previously known, and the winger has now opened up about it.
Brad Marchand Spills the Beans on Trade Deadline Move to the Florida Panthers
Honestly, if there is one thing that the Panthers did right to further their hopes of defending the Stanley Cup, it was adding Marchand to their lineup at the last minute. The veteran winger ended up playing a crucial role in Florida’s impeccable playoff run that culminated with an equally thrilling victory over the dejected Edmonton Oilers.
However, it was not just the Florida front office that wanted the former Boston Bruins captain; reportedly, another NHL team had also keenly pursued Marchand, only to be turned down by the 37-year-old.
The winger, known for his pesky reputation on ice, recently shed light on whatever transpired surrounding him at the trade deadline. Recently, Marchand reportedly stated that he was traded to the Panthers an hour before the deadline. However, when another team, the name of which remains undisclosed, expressed its interest in him, the veteran winger squarely refused to play for them.
“per marchand at Pantherfest: he was traded to another team an hour before the deadline, and when he got called by the other team, he said no he wouldn’t play for them. wouldn’t specify which team,” noted a social media user.
There is speculation that the team could very well have been the Los Angeles Kings. A Sportsnet article from June 2025 further cements such a belief: ” In a recent column, Friedman noted that Marchand nearly wound up going to L.A. instead of Florida ahead of the deadline in March — the Kings had a deal with Boston in the works, only to find out Marchand wanted to join the Cats instead,” wrote Sonny Sachdeva.
However, Marchand has found his home with the Panthers. The veteran winger has established himself as an inalienable part of the lineup, and Florida, desperate to reach dynasty status, has pulled every string possible to retain their championship roster, including offering Marchand a six-year, $31.5 million contract extension.