The Florida Panthers are closing in on a pair of important returns, with head coach Paul Maurice saying Tuesday that Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand should both be back within two weeks.
That puts two of Florida’s biggest names on the same recovery track, and both timelines have held up since the injuries were first diagnosed.
Barkov went down midway through the second game of the season, a 4-3 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 1.
He was battling for the puck along the boards when he was pushed by the Sharks’ Darnell Nurse and fell awkwardly to the ice with his left leg bent at an unnatural angle. The play appeared to buckle his knee.
Barkov avoided surgery, and the original estimate called for six to eight weeks.
The Panthers captain had already missed all of last season after knee surgery for an injury he suffered in training camp.
Marchand’s setback came two games later, in the second period of Florida’s 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 6. It was just his second game of the season after he sat out the preseason and the first two regular-season games while recovering from off-season surgery to repair a sports hernia.
The injury happened when the 38-year-old drove toward the Kings’ net, collided with defenceman Brandt Clarke, and had Clarke’s stick make contact with his face. Marchand also ran into teammate Brady Tkachuk and went into the boards. Maurice said Marchand was expected to miss six weeks, putting him on a similar schedule to Barkov.
Marchand has one goal in two games this season. Last year, he scored 27 goals and finished with 54 points in 52 games.
Drafted 71st overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006, Marchand has 452 goals and 1,035 points in 1,153 career games split between the Bruins and Panthers.
Barkov has yet to record a point this season. He posted 20 goals and 51 assists for 71 points during the 2024-25 campaign.
In Other News...
Sam Bennett Delivered In A Panthers Win They Really Needed
Sam Bennett gave Florida exactly the kind of night it needed in Columbus, scoring twice to help the Panthers beat the Blue Jackets 4-1 at Nationwide Arena. Anton Lundell and Aaron Ekblad each picked up assists, and the win nudged Florida to 10-7-2, a timely response for a team looking to steady itself in the early part of the season.
Jacob Markstrom backed it up with a sharp performance in net, turning aside 37 shots and keeping Columbus from ever fully settling in. For the Panthers, it was the sort of road result that can matter beyond the standings, especially when a veteran forward like Bennett is the one driving the offense and the team is trying to build something more consistent. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Just Got A Needed Sign On Two Key Veterans
The Panthers got a welcome sight at morning skate in Columbus, with Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand both back on the ice as the club continues to work through its early-season injury picture. For a team that has had to manage its lineup carefully, getting two established veterans back in the mix is the kind of update that can steady things quickly, even if the full return timeline is still being measured day by day.
There is still no firm date attached to either player, but the latest read from the bench suggests Florida is moving in the right direction with both. For a Panthers group trying to stay on track while other teams around the league deal with their own roster issues, having Barkov and Marchand back in skate work is a meaningful sign that help is drawing closer. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Get A Familiar Opponent In A Road Test They Need
The Panthers head into a road matchup with Columbus carrying a familiar comfort level against a Blue Jackets team they have handled well for years. Since the 2019-20 season, Florida has consistently found ways to get results in this matchup, and the timing matters now with the club trying to steady its recent play while navigating the usual wear and tear of an NHL schedule.
Columbus enters with some lineup uncertainty after Sean Monahan and Dmitri Voronkov both left the last game with injuries and are considered day-to-day, adding another layer to a game that already has some roster-watch intrigue on both sides. Paul Maurice and Rick Bowness have both been talking recently about where their teams are at and what they need from their group, so this one carries a little more weight than a routine regular-season meeting. [Read more 🡒]