Brad Marchand’s offseason hit a snag, and the Florida Panthers forward made it clear himself. On social media, Marchand said he recently had a procedure that will keep him away from the ice for the near future. He had been scheduled to skate in former teammate Zdeno Chara’s charity game in Slovakia on Friday, but said he would not be able to take part.
The Panthers may have to wait a while before seeing Marchand back in action, and there’s a chance he won’t be ready for the start of the 2026-27 season. Even so, Florida has enough depth to handle a temporary absence.
Elsewhere in preseason hockey, the Sherbrooke Phoenix knocked off the Victoriaville Tigres 3-1 in a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League game.
In Sundsvall, Sweden, MoDo Hockey rolled past host IF Sundsvall 6-0 in Saturday action at the regional SCA Cupen preseason tournament, while Timrå IK beat Brynäs IF 3-1 in a matchup of SHL teams.
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Cup also delivered a pair of tight results, with HC Aktobe edging HC Almaty 3-2 and Beibarys Atyrau blanking Yertis Pavlodar 3-0. The tournament features clubs from Kazakhstan’s Pro Hokei Ligasy.
Down in Australia, Sunday’s Australian Ice Hockey League slate brought a few lopsided finishes. The Melbourne Ice beat the Adelaide Adrenaline 10-0, the Canberra Brave topped the Brisbane Lightning 9-4, the Sydney Ice Dogs routed the Gold Coast Rhinos 9-2, and the Newcastle Northstars defeated the Perth Thunder 6-3. The AIHL regular season wraps up with next weekend’s games.
In Other News...
Brad Marchand Just Gave The Panthers An Early Roster Problem
Brad Marchands arrival in Florida already carried plenty of intrigue, but the Panthers are now staring at a more practical question before the season even opens: how soon can they count on him? Marchand underwent offseason surgery for lower-body issues, a development that puts his readiness in doubt and immediately shifts some of the focus from the excitement of adding a veteran scorer to the more mundane business of roster construction.
For a team built to chase another deep run, any uncertainty around a major new piece has ripple effects. Marchands status is the kind of thing front offices have to map out early, especially when a roster has to balance short-term health with long-term flexibility, and Florida may have to keep a close eye on how his recovery shapes its options in camp and beyond. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Have A New Brad Marchand Concern This Offseason
The Panthers spent the spring proving how thin the margin is when injuries start piling up, and that reality has only sharpened this offseason. Florida is coming off a season in which multiple players battled health issues, so any new medical wrinkle around a key veteran immediately lands with extra weight in Sunrise.
Brad Marchand is now part of that conversation after undergoing surgery, adding another layer of uncertainty to a roster that is trying to stay in championship shape. The recovery timeline was not disclosed, which leaves the Panthers waiting for answers at a time when keeping the lineup intact already feels like one of their biggest concerns. [Read more 🡒]