March was 53. Marchment was an amateur scout with the San Jose Sharks — a team he played with for most of his NHL career — and was in Montreal preparing for the upcoming NHL Draft when he died. “It’s heartbreaking,” Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito said from the team’s headquarters in Montreal. “Obviously our thoughts and prayers go out to Mason and his family … it’s horrible and I just can’t express our prayers and thoughts enough. It certainly puts this game into perspective. I met Bryan a few times, I didn’t really know him, but the (hockey) people here are in shock. So many in the GM meetings said such nice things about Bryan.” Mason Marchment has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Panthers after being acquired in a trade with Toronto in 2020. He had a breakout season with Florida this year, scoring 18 goals and 47 points in 54 games. A pending free agent, the Panthers are working with Mason on a new contract, though he could sign with another team as early as next week. In March, Mason Marchment visited San Jose as a player for the first time when the Panthers faced the Sharks. Speaking with Florida Hockey Now, Bryan Marchment talked about his son’s development and the long road it took to reach the NHL. Mason Marchment was not drafted when he started playing hockey much later than his contemporaries. But he worked hard at the game – and it paid off. “He’s come, by far, a lot farther than I thought he would,” Bryan Marchment said. “I’m very proud of him.” NHL Insider’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report Marchment’s death. This story will be updated
