It`s hard to find a four-month stretch that did more to boost a player`s stock heading into free agency than what Brad Marchand just delivered.
Rewind to early March, and the 37-year-old was captaining a Boston Bruins team that seemed destined to miss the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. Negotiations with the only NHL organization he had ever played for had reached an impasse, with the Bruins choosing to move on from the last core member of their Zdeno Chara-Patrice Bergeron era. Marchand himself appeared to be on track for a mediocre season, having finished the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament as one of Canada`s least-utilized forwards.
Then came the trade deadline, a move to Florida, and an opportunity to re-establish himself on hockey`s biggest stage.
After a series of crucial championship-winning performances, Marchand is entering free agency as one of the market`s most sought-after names. His playoff dominance solidified his reputation as one of the league`s premier performers in high-pressure games.
During Florida`s successful Cup run, the veteran ranked fourth in goals and tenth in points among all playoff skaters. Only Leon Draisaitl scored more game-winning goals than Marchand (#63). However, it was in the Stanley Cup Final that Marchand truly shone. The experienced forward scored six goals in six games while helping defeat Connor McDavid`s Edmonton Oilers – only teammate Sam Reinhart recorded more Cup Final goals, four of his seven coming in the final game of the series.
