NHL Insider Confirmed Ex-Bruin Brad Marchand May Be Heading To A Different Divisional Rival In The Off-Season

Photo credit: The Hockey News

It’s a sad reality, but most fans are now getting use to seeing Brad Marchand in a Florida Panthers sweater, but it may not last for long as an NHL insider has confirmed that Marchand is linked to another divisional rival.

With Brad Marchand being an unrestricted free agent this summer, there are definitely going to be a bunch of suitors lining up to try and acquire him.

But what no one expected, was that a different divisional rival in the Toronto Maple Leafs would be one of the top teams in line to acquire him, and an NHL insider just confirmed it.

Adam Proteau of The Hockey News stated that the Maple Leafs are going to have to try and acquire Marchand so that they can fill a massive void on their roster. Marchand brings a ton of grit, and offensive production, along with experience that would definitely benefit the Toronto Maple Leafs, more then it would hurt them.

If the Maple Leafs are not able to come to an agreement with Mitch Marner, the Leafs will definitely be one of the top teams making a big push for Brad Marchand:

«Okay, before you get snippy, hear us out: let’s assume the Maple Leafs falter early in the playoffs once again this spring.

«In the wake of that disappointment, there will likely be a massive change in Toronto – and what better way to effect significant culture change than to sign a proven winner and Leafs-haunter in Marchand?

«He’d have to acclimate to playing in the huge hockey fishbowl that is Toronto, but it’s not as if Marchand isn’t used to that in Boston.

«The Leafs might be a bigger long-shot than Pittsburgh on this list, but if Marchand values playing in another Original Six market where hockey is everything, he could spend his remaining few seasons in Toronto and be an integral part of what could be something special.

«The Leafs would be motivated buyers for him, and he’d fill an obvious need for grit and spunk.»

Maple Leafs insider, Jonas Siegel of The Athletic also believes that Brad Marchand could join the Toronto Maple Leafs if Marner does walk in the summer.

«They will certainly have ample cap space, with Marner’s absence creating a $13 million hole in their salary allocation. It might also make sense to add two wingers, increasing their scoring depth.

In that case, Brad Marchand could be one intriguing option.»

This would be insane, and most Boston Bruins fans would probably end up hating Brad Marchand if he does decide to go and sign there, especially with the history the organizations have, but at the end of the day the NHL is a business and people are going to do what they think is best for them.