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Brad Marchand Delivers Fierce Retirement Message After Panthers Deal: 'They'll Have to Kick Me Out'
Panthers' Brad Marchand revealed to RG Media that he plans to play as long as possible and said Florida would have to kick him out of the league for him to go.
Brad Marchand is not going anywhere. The veteran winger is coming off a fantastic first season with the Florida Panthers following 16 iconic seasons with the Boston Bruins.
He was Florida's playoff MVP by a good margin, scoring 10 goals, 10 assists, and a +17 rating, second-best on the team, and three game-winners, including a double-overtime goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Marchand's Commitment Strengthens Panthers' Push for Historic Three-Peat
As the Panthers pursue a third consecutive Cup, unprecedented since the early '80s New York Islanders, their title nucleus is still firmly in place.
Brad Marchand, 37, inked a six-year contract this summer after coming in from the Bruins, following Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett and defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who both signed eight-year deals. Sam Reinhart had already signed long-term last season.
"Bennett and E coming back were huge factors in me staying," says Marchand in a one-on-one interview with RG. "Those guys are awesome, guys that I really vibe with well, and I really wanted to stay there. I just didn't really think it was going to be possible. I didn't pay a ton of attention to the cap situation they were in, but I knew that we were up against it."
General Manager Bill Zito orchestrated the re-signings, maintaining Florida's core together. With most of the core in its prime, aside from Marchand and 36-year-old goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, the Panthers are built to contend for years to come.
"They enjoy being part of it and being part of the relationships that we build every day," says Marchand. "When you get to be part of an incredible organization like Florida, they make it easy to be around. It was the youngest I have felt in a long time walking into that room, the way they do things and the way they take care of themselves in there, I felt very rejuvenated. I'm excited to be part of it for a long time."
Veteran Leadership and Proven Playoff Performance Could Keep Florida on Top for Years
Marchand's agreement carries him through age 43, older than the NHL's oldest active player, 40-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury. Asked if he'll fulfill the entire term, Marchand fiercely said he'll play until they "kick" him out.
"They're going to have to kick me out of the league for me to go," says Marchand. "I'm going to play until I can't play anymore. When I heard one of my coaches say that, it always stuck with me. The longer you play, you realize how close you are to the finish. It's like you want to hold on to that as long as you can.That was always my mindset, and it is today. I want to play as long as I possibly can."
He points to this likely final contract as proof he'll be in South Florida for the long haul.
The Panthers have also become a fan favorite in a region once dominated by Dolphins football and Heat basketball. Season-ticket renewals are over 91% despite a 36.5% price hike, reflecting the team's surging popularity.
Coming from Boston, a city famous for its die-hard fans, Marchand says Panthers fans have impressed him just as much, and he's looking forward to keeping them giving him something to cheer about.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 10 | 46 ANSWERS Brad Marchand Delivers Fierce Retirement Message After Panthers Deal: 'They'll Have to Kick Me Out' Will Brad Marchand continue to play well into his 40s? | ||
| Yes | 24 | 52.2 % |
| No | 22 | 47.8 % |
| List of polls | ||