Marchand had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in the playoffs, including six goals in the Stanley Cup Final, two of which were game-winners. He was everywhere, doing everything, a ring-leader on trips to Dairy Queen, a marvel in his series-turning overtime goal in Game 2, his ankle-breaking goals in Game 5.

Marchand, brought to Florida mainly as a confidence-booster for a team that won the 2024 Cup less than 12 months earlier, delivered far more than the Panthers expected.