Yeah, life is pretty good in South Florida, where it’s all palm trees and trophies. The sun shines brightly, but the spotlight doesn’t. The vibes are high and the taxes are low. So hey, why not hang out at the rink a little longer?
Of course, Brad Marchand is 37 years old. This is his 17th NHL season. He doesn’t need to be out there for more than an hour. He doesn’t have to prove to coach Paul Maurice that he’s worthy of a roster spot. The guy could have been showered, dressed and halfway home by now.
But dang it, it’s just really fun to be a Florida Panther.
“It’s rejuvenating,” Marchand told The Athletic. “The love of the game, coming into a new group and a new environment. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get your mind back into the right place. And it makes you want to hold up your end of the bargain. That’s a huge part of this group. You don’t want to let the guy beside you down. You see how hard everyone is working, so you’d better pull on that part of the rope as well.”
It’s why Marchand — who felt “written off” by most of the hockey world last season — signed a six-year contract to stay in Florida, a deal that would take him into his mid-40s. Like so many before him in the last few years, he’s found hockey paradise and he doesn’t want to leave. One look at Panthers general manager Bill Zito’s cap sheet is enough to send a cold shiver down the spines of 31 other fan bases. The following players are all signed through the end of the decade, and most of them for well under market value: Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones and Niko Mikkola.
Read more on the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions below.