Brad Marchand opens up on 'crippling' anxiety fueled by fear of being forced out of the NHL

Brad Marchand is one of the NHL’s most competitive players, but he recently shared how much anxiety drives his career. Marchand has played well with 20 points in 16 games, his first full season with the Florida Panthers. Currently, he is on a nine-game scoring streak.

In Thursday’s 6-3 win over Washington, he added two assists, which helped him become the 102nd player in NHL history to complete the 1,000-point milestone. But after his milestone game, he shared his greatest fear in an interview with NHL.com. Marchand said he fears not being good enough and worries about being pushed out of the league.

"I have a fear of not being good enough or being pushed out [of the League] or falling off a cliff and just not being able to play anymore," Marchand said about his drive. "The fear aspect, it gives me anxiety. Like, I will wake up, if I don't do what I feel like I need to do, I'll get anxiety throughout the day."

Marchand explained that taking time off gives him 'crippling' anxiety because he feels others are improving while he is not. This mindset has shaped much of his preparation, even as he continues to produce at a high level for the Florida Panthers.

"It's the anxiety that I get if I'm away, if I take time off, it's crippling to me," Marchand shared. "like that fear of - if I don't get on the ice, if I don't do my work, it'll consume my life because I feel like other guys are doing it and I'm not and they're getting better than me. I always have to stay on top of it."

Brad Marchand’s consistency remains a key part of Florida’s offense as the Panthers sit 9-7-1 in the Atlantic Division. They are the defending Stanley Cup champions and have defeated the Edmonton Oilers twice in the last two seasons.

Brad Marchand's growing importance in Florida

Since being traded from Boston to Florida in March 2025, Brad Marchand has become a major part of the Panthers’ identity. He helped them win the 2025 Stanley Cup, scoring six goals in the Final series and making key plays throughout the playoffs.

Florida later signed him to a six-year, $31.5 million extension to keep him through the 2030-31 season. The contract gives the Panthers flexibility while rewarding Marchand’s importance on and off the ice.

Even with a long list of accomplishments, Brad Marchand still pushes himself with the same urgency he had early in his career. His fear of falling behind fuels his work ethic in a demanding league.