The Florida Panthers are your Stanley Cup champions, winning back-to-back titles with one of the greatest collections of talent we've ever seen. The Panthers are dominant up and down the lineup, and the reason they keep winning is that GM Bill Zito never rests on his laurels. He is always looking to improve his roster, and there was no bigger example than what he did this season.
Zito added Seth Jones and Brad Marchand at the trade deadline while Tom Fitzgerald was stuck adding Brian Dumoulin, Cody Glass, and Daniel Sprong. The Devils look like they might lose all three players to unrestricted free agency. Zito doesn't care because he just won the Stanley Cup.
Zito has a long to-do list before free agency begins on July 1st, and the other teams are looking to take advantage of that. Sam Bennett is the big fish. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP is a free agent this offseason. Everything he says is pointing towards re-signing in Florida, but there is a lot of money on the line. He's in line to make $10 million or more per season on the open market. How much of a haircut is he willing to take?
The Panthers also have Aaron Ekblad, Tomas Nosek, Nico Sturm, Nate Schmidt, and Vitek Vanecek hitting free agency. Yet, their focus is likely on trade deadline acquisition Brad Marchand. He was incredible in the playoffs for the Panthers, scoring 10 goals and adding 10 assists in the playoffs. He was second to Bennett in MVP voting.
It was even more impressive because eight of his goals came at even strength. Two of his three game-winning goals in the postseason came in overtime. Marchand was this perfect combination of grit and offensive firepower, which is what the Florida Panthers stand for in 2025.
While many think Marchand is bound to re-sign in Florida or possibly head to Toronto, the prevailing wisdom is he will go to the highest bidder, no matter who that is. And now, the New Jersey Devils are in the running.
Brad Marchand is officially tied to the New Jersey Devils
The Fourth Period's Top 40 free agents column has the Devils tied to one player: Marchand. Some will be upset if Fitzgerald is truly putting all of his eggs in one basket, but Marchand is the type of basket one would want to be in.
This isn't without risk. Marchand is 37 years old and reportedly wants around $8 million per season on a four-year deal. Does anyone want to pay a 41-year-old Brad Marchand $8 million when the Devils would have to give a huge extension to Nico Hischier and possibly sign Quinn Hughes at this time?
Yet, the Devils' ceiling is much higher with Marchand. He's a needle mover for a team with as much talent as the Devils. He changes how their middle-six operates.
The Devils being tied officially to Marchand is a good start. It shows they are willing to go after the players that make sense when they make sense. They won't be stopped by having just $14 million in cap space this year or the age of he player they target.
Will Marchand be a game changer for the Devils? They are entering the offseason with a chance, and sometimes, that's all it takes.