Brad Marchand gave Toronto fans plenty to eat on Tuesday. While confirming that he was close to signing with the Maple Leafs, he then stabbed the fanbase and twisted the knife, suggesting he was eager to avoid the drama and anti-Mitch Marner fans who ran the former Leafs superstar out of town.
Ahead of the Florida Panthers’ visit to take on the Maple Leafs, Marchand revealed that he was much closer to signing in Toronto than most fans ever realized. According to the veteran forward, he made a free agency decision last summer came down to just two teams: Florida and Toronto.
“It was between Florida and Toronto where I was going to go,” Marchand said, admitting he didn’t believe a new contract with the Panthers would be possible because of their cap situation. Ultimately, Florida made it work, signing him to a six-year contract worth $5.25 million per season.
That alone would have been headline-worthy. Marchand wasn’t done yet.
When asked about the Leafs’ current direction, he pointed directly to the fan base — and the departure of Mitch Marner — as a major reason for Toronto’s struggles.
“It’s a shame the fans drove Marner out of town,” Marchand said. “That has a huge impact on their group. He’s a point-per-game player. That hurts.”
Did Marchand have anything nice to say about the Maple Leafs?
Marchand added that Toronto is “playing the right way now” compared to previous versions of the team, but the message was clear: the loss of Marner left a void that won’t be easily replaced. The fact that he is not at the club today and remains with the Panthers is probably a huge relief. It sounds like he feels like he’s avoided a pretty big mistake.
Marchand has made a career out of annoying Toronto, and even in a Panthers jersey – fresh off a Stanley Cup – he hasn’t lost his touch.
Toronto almost signed its old opponent. Instead, it got another reminder of what went out the door – and who never came in.
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