Brad Marchand appears comfortable in his new home.
The pesky forward is closing in on a six-year extension worth just under $32 million with the Florida Panthers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday.
Marchand was shipped to the Panthers in a stunning deadline deal from the Boston Bruins, with whom he had spent the first 16 years of his career.
But he immediately took a liking to South Florida, recording four points in 10 regular-season games after recovering from injury before shining with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) while playing a critical third-line role en route to a second Stanley Cup championship.
The 37-year-old also became a hit for his love of Dairy Queen Blizzards. After winning the Stanley Cup, Marchand was serving Blizzards at a local Dairy Queen when he was asked about his future in Florida.
“Give me a contract,” Marchand said with a laugh.
The Halifax native also won a title with Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February and could play for the national team again at the 2026 Olympics in Italy.
Selected in the third round, 71st overall, in the 2006 draft, Marchand has gone on to skate in 1,100 career games, tallying 424 goals and 556 assists.
With 20 more points, he will become the 101st member of the NHL’s 1,000-point club, further cementing his case for Hall of Fame enshrinement.
After Marchand and the Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks to win the 2011 Stanley Cup, he returned to the Final with Boston in 2013 and 2019 before going back with Florida this year.
