Reports Appear to Confirm What Some Suspected Regarding Brad Marchand and the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Walter Tychnowicz | Imagn Images
There has been some chatter circulating about Brad Marchand and the Maple Leafs having mutual interest in a deal, and multiple reports seem to confirm just that.
While many in Leafs Nation still harbor ill will towards Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett due to his play that injured Anthony Stolarz in Game 1 of round two, it hasn't prevented anyone in Toronto from expressing their desire to see him sign with the Leafs.
Unfortunately, TSN's Darren Dreger reported earlier this week that Bennett is unlikely to leave South Florida due to the lifestyle he is afforded there.
That's disappointing to hear, for sure, but there are a handful of other free agents that could help replace Mitch Marner while allowing Treliving to 'change the DNA' in Toronto.
Multiple Reports Suggest Brad Marchand is open to signing with the Leafs
Ahead of Game 2, during an interview with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Brad Marchand confirmed he would listen to offers from any team, including the Maple Leafs.
TSN's Darren Dreger and Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos also both reported Marchand's likeliness to join the Leafs.
"Marchand is a little bit different. Maybe he is the best of the three options in terms of not being afraid of the environment given what he went through in Boston," said Dreger on Friday's edition of TSN's 'OverDrive'.
During that same time, while debating Sam Bennett's next contract on 'The Real Kyper and Bourne Show', Nick Kypreos also reported that it was a realistic possibility that Marchand joins the Leafs.
"That's more realistic, that Brad Marchand ends up signing and playing wing with Auston Matthews than Bennett."
From Leafs villain to quite possibly a beloved Maple Leads forward would be quite the career arc for Marchand, but he would certainly be a welcomed addition to the forward group and show the likes of Auston Matthews and William Nylander, among others, the mentality it takes to win.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 8 | 7453 ANSWERS Reports Appear to Confirm What Some Suspected Regarding Brad Marchand and the Maple Leafs Do the Maple Leafs have a better chance of signing Ontario native Sam Bennett or long-time rival Brad Marchand? | ||
| Marchand | 4304 | 57.7 % |
| Bennett | 1678 | 22.5 % |
| Hopefully they can sign both | 1471 | 19.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
