It’s only a matter of time before the 2025-2026 National Hockey League’s regular season kicks off. Once again, 32 teams will gear up for a dance with fate on ice in a bid to secure the prestigious Stanley Cup. As the excitement builds, it’s only natural for the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, to enter the conversation. Having already won two consecutive times, they now eye a historic three-peat this forthcoming season. Though jinxing their chances would be the last thing to do, star forward Brad Marchand wasn’t shy about giving his brutally honest take on the matter.

Interestingly, the last time a team successfully managed to achieve what many expect to see the Florida Panthers do was in 1980, courtesy of the New York Islanders. Forget a three-peat; led by their first president, Bill Torrey, the Islanders managed to secure four straight Stanley Cup wins. While that number alone is a dream for many, Marchand finds himself lucky to be playing with a team that is desperate to compete for the revered trophy each year.

“One of the things that you look at the group, we’re going to be together for a long time,” began the 37-year-old ahead of his first day with the team’s 2025 training camp in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. “It feels incredible as a player to know that you’re going to be part of a group that’s going to be competing every year to play for a Stanley Cup.”

Sure, little does Marchand realize that to achieve what they have been asked to requires a lot more than just mincing words. For the ex-Boston Bruins left winger, challenges like taking the right decisions and producing at the right times, finding a perfect equilibrium within the squad, and, more importantly, making sure everyone is injury prone are something that needs utmost attention.

Then again, these situations are something neither Marchand nor his teammates can guarantee they’ll avoid. What they can do, however, is keep their heads up, move forward, and focus on controlling what they actually can. “It’s not a guarantee we’re going to win every year. But we will be in contending talks every season, which is pretty remarkable,” added Brad.

You hear that? Marchand isn’t interested in making promises or declaring anything too early. Instead, he’d rather focus on seeing his team do what’s needed to lift the Stanley Cup once again. One thing, however, is certain: the Florida Panthers isn’t stopping themselves from dreaming big, and at the helm is Brad Marchand—who, without any doubts, decided to stay put where he believes he can help his fellow mates etch their name into the history books.

There’s a reason why Brad Marchand chose to stay with Florida Panthers!

Yes, aside from potentially being part of a team that could rewrite history by achieving a feat not seen in decades, Brad Marchand is also getting something he couldn’t have found with any other team, not even the Boston Bruins. In the same media interaction, the Canadian superstar revealed his decision to re-sign with the Florida Panthers on a six-year deal worth $31.8 million.

Marchand acknowledged that Florida’s lack of state income tax was a major factor in his decision to stay. Interestingly, the Panthers’ choice to secure other key free agents—Sam Bennett (eight years, $64 million) and Aaron Ekblad (eight years, $48.8 million)—to long-term deals was influenced by the same advantage.

“Call it a spade of spade, if we were not in a non-tax state, it wouldn’t have worked out probably for two guys (him, Bennett, Ekblad). Two guys probably would have been leaving in that situation. So it’s a benefit that this team has, we were able to utilize and make work,” he said.

It has to be noted that agreeing to such a long-term contract with Florida Panthers only indicates that Marchand does view the Florida-based team as retirement home. Still, the way he says so, we don’t think that’s happening anytime soon. But it does bring Boston Bruins into questioning, who even though wanted to make their veteran star a “lifelong player”, certainly didn’t showcase in their contract.

In fact, a report from ESPN reported that Brad was offered only a three-year contract. However, in the eyes of the 37-year-old, forget one or two years, even signing a three-year deal wasn’t “in the cards.” As he put it, his retirement goal is straightforward: “I want to play as long as I can. That’s why it didn’t work out in Boston. I want to play until I get kicked out of the league,” said the Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia native.

We bet this is no less than music to the ears of ardent Florida Panthers fans, who would be hoping to see their favorite side rally for the Stanley Cup every year, at least until Brad Marchand is there.