Overview

• Marchand said he assumed Florida could not fit him, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad under the cap and that he did not expect to be a Panther this season.
• He ultimately signed a six-year, $31.5 million extension before free agency, carrying a $5.25 million annual cap hit.
• Marchand said a no‑income‑tax environment was decisive, adding that without it “two guys probably would have been leaving.”
• Florida retained its core with three deals totaling $144.3 million: Bennett at eight years ($8 million AAV) and Ekblad at eight years ($6.1 million AAV) alongside Marchand’s pact.
• He stated he wants to play as long as possible and indicated Boston talks fell apart because he would not accept a one‑ to three‑year contract.