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The NHL has attempted to downplay the notion that teams that play in a state with no income tax have an advantage when it comes to signing players to a contract. However, Brad Marchand has firmly countered that narrative while confirming that factor played a role in his decision to ink a new deal with the Florida Panthers.
Most people who possess the talent you need to play a sport for a living earn a salary that means they don’t need to be overly concerned about their bank account balance. With that said, professional athletes are still people like you and me, and they usually aren’t going to turn down an opportunity to maximize their earning potential.
One of the downsides of making millions of dollars a year is the fact that it also places you in a tax bracket where a significant chunk of that dough is going to end up going to the government. However, there are some ways you can increase your take-home pay.
The vast majority of states that are home to at least one professional sports franchise have a “jock tax” that allows them to collect money from members of the visiting team when they play a game within their borders. That levy applies to players who already live in a state that boasts an income tax, although there are currently nine states where residents don’t have to deal with that hassle.
That includes five states—Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington—that boast an NHL franchise, and there are plenty of people who have argued the Panthers, Golden Knights, Predators, Stars, and Kraken have earned a competitive advantage as a result.
That argument has gained steam now that Florida has won back-to-back Stanley Cups, but commissioner Gary Bettman has firmly dismissed the notion that it’s a topic that’s even worth discussing—an assertion one man who recently signed a new contract with the team would seemingly disagree with.
Brad Marchand admitted the lack of state income tax in Florida influenced his decision to sign a new deal with the team
Brad Marchand became very familiar with income tax during the more than 15 seasons he spent with the Boston Bruins, as Massachusetts has one of the highest rates in the country for people earning more than $1 million a year.
However, he firmly landed on the other end of the spectrum after he was traded to the Panthers last season, and it appears he plans to finish his career in Florida when you consider the 37-year-old signed a six-year, $31.5 million contract with the team shortly after hoisting Lord Stanley’s trophy for the second time.
The length of that deal almost certainly played a role in his decision to stay in Florida, but on Wednesday, he also made it clear the tax situation influenced it and that of at least one other player.
The Clip ✂️
Brad Marchand on the no-tax State being the reason he was able to sign in FLA ⬇️ 💵 🏖️
🎥: PantherVision pic.twitter.com/Y4iktPfNl6
— CatsNBoltsPodcast (@CatsNBoltsPod) September 17, 2025
Here’s what he had to say:
“I did not expect to be a Panther this year, if I’m being completely honest. I just didn’t think that it could work with everybody…
If we were not in a no-tax state, it wouldn’t work out, probably for two guys. Two guys probably would be leaving in that situation. That’s a benefit that this team has that we able to utilize and make work. I’m thrilled to be here for the next six years.”
Taxes aren’t the only reason players are attracted to Florida (the weather, their recent success, and the team’s proximity to Miami are certainly big perks), but Marchand has made it pretty clear that a de facto tax break that’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars per year certainly doesn’t hurt despite what the NHL would like you to believe.