Florida’s Brad Marchand says he feared injury could be worse, eager to resume play

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP) — Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand expressed relief on Thursday that his left knee injury, suffered during an October game, might not have ended his season or career. Initially concerned about the severity of his injury, Marchand now anticipates returning to action within six weeks. He remarked, "I’ve never been so happy to be out for this amount of time."

Marchand, 38, is in his third season with the Panthers after spending his first 16 years with the Boston Bruins. He was traded to Florida in March 2025 and played a crucial role in the team's recent Stanley Cup victory. Barkov, Florida's captain, is also expected to return soon and has been working with Marchand.