Brad Marchand: ‘it was between Florida and Toronto’ in free agency last summer

Brad Marchand dropping big quotes in The Six? Color me shocked.

When speaking to the media in the lead-up to Tuesday night’s clash between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, Panthers forward Brad Marchand commented on his decision to stay in Florida, rather than test the waters of free agency.

While Marchand didn’t go into details, he said his choices were either to stay in Florida or to potentially sign with the Maple Leafs.

“It was between Florida and Toronto,” Marchand stated. “I never thought it was even possible to re-sign with Florida, I really didn’t.”

Even though there was a possibility that he could sign with the Leafs, Marchand elected to stay in sunny Sunrise, signing a six-year contract extension, with an AAV of $5.25 million, a day before free agency opened.

The idea that there might not have been room for the Cats to fit Marchand under the cap stemmed from the team already signing defenseman Aaron Ekblad and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett to new deals in the week before July 1. Marchand himself noted that those two guys probably wouldn’t have re-signed with the Panthers had the team not been “in a non-tax state.”

The thought of Marchand coming to Toronto might irk some of Leafs Nation, especially since how No. 63 had grown accustomed to tormenting their team dating back to his days with the Boston Bruins. Even in last year’s playoffs, Marchand came in clutch in the second round, scoring three goals and eight points in the second-round series against the Leafs. The Halifax native scored the overtime winner in what proved to be a pivotal Game 3, before posting three points in a lopsided Game 7 for the eventual Cup winners.

This season, Marchand has been dynamite for the Panthers, especially given how many key players remain out of action. In 40 games, the 37-year-old has scored 23 goals and 46 points, leading the team in scoring.