A Bruins reunion could soon be on the table for Brad Marchand.
If the Canadian left winger does not re-sign with the Panthers, the Bruins — who traded him to Florida during the season after 15-plus years in Boston — and the Maple Leafs are interested in talking to Marchand on Tuesday once the free agency period opens, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Sunday morning.
However, it’s still possible for Marchand to reach an agreement with the 2025 Stanley Cup champions before reaching the open market.
Marchand, 37, started his NHL career with Boston after being drafted 71st overall in the third round of the 2006 draft.
He went on to earn four All-Star nods and win his first Stanley Cup championship in 2010-11 in just his second year in the league.
The Maple Leafs are also on the verge of losing top offensive piece and right wing Mitch Marner in a possible sign-and-trade with the Golden Knights.
If Marchand is available, it seems like a viable move for a team looking to go deeper into the playoffs after exiting in either the first or second round for the past five years.
The Panthers hold a tight cap situation to re-sign Marchand after they signed Sam Bennett to an eight-year contract worth $64 million on Friday. They may also look to re-sign one of their defensemen, Aaron Ekblad.
Marchand was traded to Florida late in the season in March and was playing in the final season of an eight-year, $49 million contract he signed with Boston in 2016.
Last season with the Bruins, he had 47 points (21 goals, 26 points) in 61 games.
With the Panthers, he had four points (two goals, two assists) in 10 games during the regular season.
In their championship run, he tallied 20 points with 10 goals and assists apiece in 23 games.
