Florida Panthers star Brad Marchand remains a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) with the start of free agency just two days away. Given how amazingly he fit into the Panthers' roster, there is no question that Florida wants to keep him around. No. 63 has also been quite transparent about hoping to stay put.
However, with July 1 being so close, teams naturally have their eyes on Marchand. If he ends up hitting the free-agent market, there will be a ton of interest in him after his incredible playoff run. Now, two specific clubs have been connected to the Panthers star.
According to Pierre LeBrun, the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to chat with Marchand if he becomes a UFA and does not re-sign with the Panthers by July 1.
The Bruins being interested in Marchand is not shocking. He was a massive part of their roster for 16 years and was their captain before they traded him to Florida at the deadline. Thus, it makes sense that they are open to bringing him back, especially with their top six needing improvement.
The Maple Leafs having their eye on Marchand is also understandable. Mitch Marner is expected to leave Toronto through free agency, and their top six would have a big hole if he does walk. Furthermore, with the Maple Leafs needing more playoff success, bringing in a two-time Stanley Cup champion coming off a monster post-season would be huge for the Leafs.
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