On July 1, Brad Marchand secured a six-year contract worth $31.5 million with the Florida Panthers, agreeing to an annual salary of $5.25 million. This agreement came shortly after Marchand’s strong playoff performance in 2025, which contributed significantly to the Panthers winning their second Stanley Cup title.
At 37 years old, Marchand joined the Panthers in March after being traded. During the previous season, he recorded 51 points, including 23 goals and 28 assists, and was instrumental in the playoffs, earning 20 points with a notable six goals in the Stanley Cup finals against the Edmonton Oilers.
Mixed Reactions From NHL Analysts on Contract Length
The deal has generated discussion among hockey experts. NHL analysts Jason Gregor and Michael Russo voiced their opinions during a Saturday podcast. Gregor expressed surprise at the length of Marchand’s contract, describing it as unexpected for a player of his age.
“They kept the entire gang together and a little bit of head scratching, maybe on some of the term of those contracts, like Brad Marchand, hell of a guy, but Brad Marchand, six-year deal like, great for him, but for Florida Panthers,” Gregor said (32:21), via the “Daily Faceoff Rundown” podcast.
Gregor also addressed the injury situation of Matthew Tkachuk, highlighting the Panthers’ current salary cap challenges and explaining Tkachuk’s placement on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). He suggested Tkachuk is unlikely to remain on LTIR all season, especially given his ambition to compete for Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Obviously, he’s going to want to play there,” Gregor said.
Gregor questioned Russo about the unexpected nature of the contracts awarded by Panthers general manager Bill Zito.
“Were you surprised at the deals that he (Zito) handed out?” Gregor said.
Russo praised Zito’s leadership, emphasizing how the general manager has transformed Florida into a destination attractive to players, which was not the case before.
“You know, I’m never going to criticize Bill Zito,” Russo said.
“He’s just an amazing general manager, so I am surprised. I’m more surprised that they were able to get it done like I thought, maybe two out of three for them to get all three back in the core. I just think that was just incredible work there, by a GM that is managing a team that is a place that nobody used to want to go to.”
Russo further noted that Marchand’s addition to the Panthers was ideal, praising his contributions on the ice and his leadership within the locker room.
“Marchand fit in like a glove there. It was an absolute blast to cover him,” Russo said.
Marchand brings 16 NHL seasons of experience, including two Stanley Cup championships: one with Boston in 2011 and another with Florida last season.
Panthers Solidify Core With Additional Key Signings
Alongside Marchand, the Panthers extended long-term contracts to defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Sam Bennett this offseason. Ekblad agreed to an eight-year, $48.8 million contract, while Bennett secured an eight-year deal worth $64 million. Both players played pivotal roles during Florida’s playoff run.
Russo expressed optimism about the team’s future, applauding the organization for retaining these essential players.
“So they’re just going to be a great team,” Russo said on Saturday, via the “Daily Faceoff Rundown” podcast.
Beyond his on-ice performance, Marchand gained attention for his engaging personality, contributing to the team‘s vibrant locker room atmosphere and becoming a fan favorite during the playoffs, notably due to his humorous Dairy Queen remarks.
With these contracts in place, the Florida Panthers have successfully secured their championship core for the foreseeable future, positioning themselves as strong contenders in upcoming seasons.