According to a <a href="https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1939793506161050071">report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman</a>, the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/line-combinations">Florida Panthers</a> and Brad Marchand have agreed to terms on a six-year contract extension with just under $32 million.



If finalized, the deal would keep Marchand from testing the unrestricted free agent market when it officially opens at 12:00 PM EST on Tuesday. 



It would also represent a monstrous effort by Florida general manager Bill Zito to retain all three of his team’s big-name pending unrestricted free agents. 



Center Sam Bennett agreed to an extension last week, and defenseman Aaron Ekblad did the same earlier on Monday. 



Marchand joined the Panthers at this past season’s trade deadline in a blockbuster deal with the<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/boston-bruins/line-combinations"> Boston Bruins</a> for a conditional second round draft pick that upgraded to a first round selection based on Florida’s performance. <div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="136"></div>



The veteran winger was a revelation on the team’s run to its second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, tallying 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 23 games played with a plus-17 rating. 



Marchand played just 10 regular season games after the trade as he recovered from an injury.



While in Boston, Marchand was still productive, compiling 47 points in 61 games on a Bruins team that was offensively challenged for much of the season.



In his career, Marchand has scored 424 goals and 556 assists for 980 points, making it likely that he will eclipse the 1,000-point market next regular season.



Marchand finished second place in voting for the Conn Smythe as the MVP of the entire playoffs, finishing just behind Bennett.



Once the deal is finalized, Florida will be right up against or even just above the upper limits of the recently-increased salary cap.<div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="148"></div>



<a href="https://puckpedia.com/team/florida-panthers">According to PuckPedia</a>, the Panthers had just $4.9 million in salary cap space 



Teams are allowed to surpass the cap ceiling during the offseason, but must be compliant by the start of the regular season.

Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena.