Marchand Out 'Weeks' for Panthers, May Need Surgery

Forward won silver medal with Canada at Olympics; Florida 11 points out of playoff spot

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand will be out for an extended period due to a lingering lower-body injury that may require surgery. Marchand, who won a silver medal with Team Canada at the recent Olympics, has been dealing with the issue for a couple of months. The team is hopeful they caught it early enough, but Marchand is expected to be out for 'weeks' as they determine the best course of treatment, which could include surgery.

Why it matters

Marchand is the Panthers' second-leading scorer this season, so his extended absence is a significant blow to a team that is already 11 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers have won the Stanley Cup the past two seasons, so this injury could derail their chances of making the postseason and defending their title.

The details

Marchand missed 10 games prior to the Olympics due to the lower-body injury, but still played in four games for Team Canada, recording one assist. Panthers coach Paul Maurice said the team has been able to 'maintain' the injury, but it reached a point on the recent road trip where it was 'never recovering' and 'just getting worse.' The team will decide this week whether surgery is needed.

  • Marchand missed 10 games prior to the Olympics last month.
  • Marchand played in four games for Team Canada at the Olympics, recording one assist.
  • The Panthers return home to face the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday (March 12, 2026).

The players

Brad Marchand

A 37-year-old forward for the Florida Panthers who won a silver medal with Team Canada at the recent Olympics.

Paul Maurice

The head coach of the Florida Panthers.

Seth Jones

A defenseman for the Florida Panthers who fractured his collarbone on January 2nd and is nearing a return to the lineup.

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What they’re saying

“There's going to be a decision made on what's the best way to get him to 100 percent full health. I think even if there isn't [surgery], we're still talking long-term; like, this isn't going to be a couple of days. We're into weeks.”

— Paul Maurice, Head Coach, Florida Panthers (nhl.com)

“Seth had a 6-8 week window, and he's probably going to push to eight on that. He still has to clear medically. He can take contact, but there is still some healing that has to happen that hasn't happened yet.”

— Paul Maurice, Head Coach, Florida Panthers (nhl.com)

What’s next

The Panthers will decide this week whether Marchand needs surgery to address his lingering lower-body injury.

The takeaway

Marchand's extended absence due to injury is a significant blow to the Panthers' playoff hopes, as they currently trail the Boston Bruins by 11 points for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The team's ability to overcome this setback and make a late-season push will be crucial to their chances of defending their recent Stanley Cup titles.