Panthers' Brad Marchand Addresses Future Immediately After Winning Stanley Cup
Panthers' Brad Marchand Addresses Future Immediately After Winning Stanley Cup originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Brad Marchand waited 14 years to lift the Stanley Cup again, and it's fair to assume he probably never thought he'd do so as a member of the Florida Panthers.
Advertisement
After such a long wait, Marchand wasn't about to rush into decisions about what comes next as he approaches unrestricted free agency.
Just minutes after Florida's 5–1 Game 6 win over the Edmonton Oilers clinched back-to-back titles for the Panthers and Marchand's second championship — and first since leaving the Boston Bruins — the veteran forward was asked whether there's any chance he will come back to Florida next season.
"We'll see what happens here soon," Marchand said.
Marchand joined Florida late in the season after a deadline trade from Boston in exchange for a conditional draft pick. The winger had spent the entirety of his 16-year career in Beantown and was named team captain at the start of this season.
Advertisement
Truth be told, the trade turned out to be a transformative move because of his immediate impact and how it helped the Panthers become the first team since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020-21 to win back-to-back Cups.
"You never know how things are going to play out," Marchand said. "I just wanted to come in and buy in and be part of the group and play whatever role I was put in and do it to the best I possibly can."
Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) speaks to head coach Paul Maurice after winning the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers.Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Marchand became a key piece in Florida's playoff run, finishing with 10 goals and 20 points in 23 games and as the likely runner-up for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.
Advertisement
The 37-year-old credited Florida's team culture for easing his transition.
"They've built an incredible culture in this room. It's very easy to follow," Marchand said. "And when you do that, you just leave it all on the ice."
Related: Panthers Not the Favorites in Initial 2026 Stanley Cup Odds
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Sam Reinhart On Florida Panthers Repeating As Stanley Cup Champions: ‘'There's No Better Place To Play Hockey'
Sam Reinhart celebrates the Florida Panthers' latest Stanley Cup win with local fans at Raising ... More Cane's. Sam Reinhart has emerged as quite the force in hockey over the past couple of years. The 29-year-old forward has turned in two of the more clutch performances in the NHL over the past couple of Stanley Cup Finals, hitting the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals and scoring four goals in the series-clinching Game 6 over the Edmonton Oilers in this year's rematch. 'I think being there before, every time you go through something, you're that much more comfortable the next time,' says Reinhart of his and the Panthers' performance in the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. "You just kind of enjoy the moment. It was such a battle again, but we felt confident the whole time. It's nice not to be in Edmonton (for Game 7)." Reinhart became the first player since 1957 to score four goals in a Stanley Cup Finals game. 'A whole lot of nothing, a little bit of a blackout,' Reinhart says when asked what was running through his mind. 'You're just feeling that energy, you're kind of in the zone and that was probably the fastest game I've ever been a part of. It was a pretty cool experience.' Behind the play of Reinhart along with the rest of the core – Matthew Tkachuk, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky – the Panthers have emerged as the NHL's powerhouse team. Considering the franchise didn't win a playoff series for 26 years until 2022 and when factoring in that they're the southernmost team in the NHL, it's quite the accomplishment. The Panthers have quickly emerged as South Florida's most adored team, especially when considering the other major pro sports teams of the area – the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat and Miami Marlins – have struggled to win championships in recent years. 'Over the last 10 years since I've been in the league, the transformation that's happened in South Florida has been pretty special,' says Reinhart. 'So to be a part of it over the last couple of years is something we're not taking for granted and we're going to enjoy every second of it.' While the shift in South Florida becoming a hockey town has been dramatic, it didn't happen overnight. The additions of Bennett during the 2020-21 season and Reinhart before the 2021-22 season helped get the Panthers to a competitive level. However, they still struggled in the playoffs, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in consecutive seasons, including during the 2021-22 season when they finished with a league-best 122 points. Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day's news in your inbox every all set! Enjoy the Daily! You're all set! Enjoy the Daily! They've flipped the script completely since the additions of Tkachuk and head coach Paul Maurice before the start of the 2022-23 season, winning 11 of 12 playoff series. 'Doing it again, in some instances it was easier and in some instances it was a lot harder,' says Reinhart of winning the Stanley Cup for the second time. 'The mental grind was harder this year, especially during the start of playoffs, end of the season, there are different spurts of the year that are very challenging. Part of it because you know how tough it is and you are so tired at the end of the day. But you keep pushing and we were able to persevere again.' The Panthers' core is young with the exception of Bobrovsky (36 years old) and they seem poised to continue their run. However, Florida has notable free agents this offseason, including Conn Smythe Trophy winner Bennett, midseason acquisition Brad Marchand – who scored multiple game-winning goals in the playoffs – and their second-longest tenured player, Ekblad, who joined the team in 2014. 'I think everyone in the league knows you want to be in Florida,' says Reinhart. 'There's no better place to play hockey, there's no better place to live. Whether you go through something like this or not, everyone's aware of that. We're fortunate to be here, we're fortunate to live here. Those guys know that. I'm confident those guys are coming back, whether it happens, I'm not sure. They've got a spot here in history forever, love those guys, and hope they're back for sure.' Just days after winning the Stanley Cup for the second time at Amerant Bank Arena, Reinhart celebrated the team's latest cup win with local fans just minutes away from the Panthers' arena at Raising Cane's. It was the second consecutive year that a Panthers star celebrated a Stanley Cup win at Raising Cane's, with Tkachuk doing so last year. Last year's event drew around 2,500 fans. 'It's everything,' says Reinhart of Raising Canes' support. 'Since coming down to Florida, we've had that support for years. To be able to give back to this whole brand and something that is very special for us.' Sam Reinhart celebrates the Florida Panthers' latest Stanley Cup win with local fans at Raising ... More Cane's. Reinhart names the chicken fingers and an Arnold Palmer as his go-to items on the menu. 'My go-to Cane's order has to be a four-set of a chicken fingers,' says Reinhart. 'That will do. First time I tried Cane's was in Florida during my first year. My wife and I were hung over -- it was a nice order and it saved our day.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
WNBA Rival Points Out Caitlin Clark's Influence in All-Star Voting
WNBA Rival Points Out Caitlin Clark's Influence in All-Star Voting originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been one of the main reasons the WNBA has seen a major increase in attention over the past couple of seasons. Since going No. 1 overall in the 2024 draft, TV ratings, ticket sales and jersey sales have all climbed, especially for the Fever and their players. Advertisement With the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game set for July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, fan voting is already in full swing. On Friday, the league released its first update on the top vote-getters. Out of the top 40 players listed, eight of them came from the Fever, including four in the top 10. Here is where each of them stands: (1) Caitlin Clark, Guard - 515,993 (3) Aliyah Boston, Frontcourt - 446,961 (7) Kelsey Mitchell, Guard - 277,664 (9) Lexie Hull, Guard - 217,438 (16) Natasha Howard, Frontcourt - 158,331 (23) Sophie Cunningham, Guard - 95,116 (30) Damiris Dantas, Frontcourt - 72,262 (38) DeWanna Bonner, Frontcourt - 56,775 Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) celebrates after scoring a 3-pointer.© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams noticed how the Fever had eight of the top 40 vote-getters and discussed it on her Twitch stream, "studbudz." "They whole starting five was on that list," Williams said. "Even folks that came off they bench was on that list, bro. No cap. That's crazy, bro, but that really show you the influence that Caitlin Clark got." Advertisement "No, facts," her teammate Natisha Hiedeman replied. "Her influence is insane," Williams said. "And people try to say that... Let's just state the facts, bro," Hiedeman said. "You can't even hate on it cause it's like you got motion," Williams said. While this update gives a good sense of who might make the All-Star game, it's important to remember that it's just the first update, and fan voting only accounts for 50% of the final vote. The other half is split evenly between current players and a media panel. Once the league has announced the players who make it, the WNBA will host a draft to determine the rosters. The results of the draft will be revealed on July 8. Advertisement Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Strong Two-Word Message to Aliyah Boston After Fever Loss Related: Dawn Staley Doesn't Hold Back About Caitlin Clark This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Angel Reese Is Going Viral for One Play During Sky-Mercury Game
Angel Reese Is Going Viral for One Play During Sky-Mercury Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese doesn't make or attempt many 3-pointers. Reese is scoring about 11 points per game this season behind strong play inside. Advertisement But on Saturday versus the Phoenix Mercury, Reese made her third 3-pointer of the season. The made deep shot caused an uproar on social media. ESPN posted a video of Reese's made 3-pointer on X. In the video's first three and a half hours, the clip received more than 700,000 views. The 3-pointer was actually Reese's only shot attempt Saturday afternoon versus the Mercury. Reese posted nine points behind going 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. The forward also had two rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. The Mercury routed the Sky 107-86. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Reese now has six made 3-pointers in her WNBA career. Her 3-pointer Saturday matched her total from her rookie season. Advertisement In 2024, Reese made 3-of-16 3-point attempts, which was just 18.8%. She has gone 3-for-10 at the 3-point line this season. Other than the 3-pointer, though, Reese didn't have a very productive afternoon in the 21-point loss. The Sky forward finished under her 11-point game average and well below the 11.7 rebounds she was posting per game before Saturday. Last season, Reese registered 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game as a rookie. With the loss to the Mercury on Saturday, the Sky fell to 3-9, currently the third-worst record. Chicago has lost five of its last six games. Meanwhile, the Mercury are heading in the opposite direction. Phoenix has won five consecutive contests and improved to 11-4 on Saturday and maintains its hold on the third spot in the standings. Advertisement Related: T.J. McConnell's Dad Shares Emotional Message on Kids Playing in NBA Finals, WNBA This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
