Panthers' Brad Marchand Expected To Miss Around Six Weeks After Suffering Apparent Knee Injury

The Florida Panthers provided some good news on the injury front Friday.

For the first time in over a week, the team held a practice at Panthers’ home facility in Fort Lauderdale.

Afterwards, Florida head coach Paul Maurice provided an update on injured forward Brad Marchand.

It was on Tuesday night in Los Angeles that Marchand suffered what appeared to be a left knee injury after a hit next to the Kings’ net.

He needed help off the ice and did not appear to put any weight on his left leg while trainers led him to Florida’s locker room.

Speaking after Friday’s practice, Maurice said the expectation is that Marchand will be out for around six weeks.

Maurice added that Marchand could be back on the ice in as soon as three weeks.

The injury to Marchand came just a few days after Panthers captain Sasha Barkov suffered a lower-body injury during Florida’s overtime loss in San Jose.

Similarly to Marchand, Barkov received a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks.

That would put both on a track to return to the Panthers lineup sometime in mid-to-late November.

During Friday’s practice, Lars Eller took over Barkov’s spot centering a line with Brady Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart.

Marchand briefly lined up on that line, with Sam Reinhart shifting to center, but with both out, Maruice seems to be shifting back to Reinhart at his natural wing position.

Florida will host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night for the Panthers’ home opener.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Amerant Bank Arena.

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Photo caption: Feb 27, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wingBradMarchand(63) looks on against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)