With the Stanley Cup Final ending this week, the NHL offseason is about to start. One player who will likely get a lot of attention this summer is Florida Panthers left winger Brad Marchand, who’s had an incredible Stanley Cup Final with six goals in five games against the Edmonton Oilers.
The 37-year-old is about to be an unrestricted free agent and has already been linked to several teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, one NHL analyst isn’t too keen on Marchand’s potential price tag.
NHL Analyst Warns Against Overpaying for Brad Marchand
While Marchand might be on his way to a second Stanley Cup title, the asking price for his services this offseason is rumored to be around $8 million per year. However, former NHL goalie and studio analyst Martin Biron doesn’t seem sold on this number.
“I wouldn’t. I think $8 million is a lot,” Biron said before Game 6. “Look, it’s Marchand, and he had a 51-point regular season this year. I think the three surgeries and the Boston Bruins’ lack of stability affected that.
“But he’s also not an 80-point player. He’s not a point-per-game guy,” Biron continued. “Is he more like a 60-to-65-point player? Yeah, I think that’s pretty much what you’re going to get from him. He does a lot of things when you get to the playoffs, but $8 million is a lot.”
Biron agrees that Marchand’s impact in the playoffs has been undeniable, but doesn’t see much sense in the Maple Leafs paying so much for a 37-year-old complementary player. Biron thinks $5-6 million per year makes more sense for Marchand, who may deserve $7 million annually now after his stellar playoff run.
“Still, $8 million at 37 years old for four years? That’s steep,” Biron said. “That kind of deal might make sense if there’s a bidding war and you’re dead-set on landing him.”
Toronto has $27 million in cap space, but still needs to be careful about overpaying Marchand based on his strong postseason.
Biron also warns the Maple Leafs that instead of overpaying for Marchand, they should keep their focus on the players they desperately need.
“You don’t want to end up in a situation where you don’t have the money to sign Matthew Knies, and then someone comes in with an offer sheet and you can’t match it,” Biron said.
Regardless of who Toronto decides to pursue this offseason, it will be an interesting summer for them coming off another disappointing playoff exit. Marchand would provide the veteran leadership and championship experience they desperately need, but he may not be a good long-term investment at this stage of his career.
