Brad Marchand was able to make his debut for Florida Panthers on Friday night when his new team hosts Utah Hockey Club in Sunrise, FLA.
Marchand, acquired from Boston Bruins on March 7 for a conditional draft for the second round of 2027, has not been able to play for Florida due to an upper body injury.
He went on Panther’s second row in practice for the second day in a row on Thursday. Sam Bennett, who did not train on Wednesday, was in the middle, and Mackie Samoskevich was on the left wing.
“We’ll see how everyone comes back to the track (on Friday), and then (after) the morning skating, we will make the decision whether Brad is in or not,” said Florida coach Paul Maurice.
Marchand, 36, had played his entire 16-season career with Bruins and recorded 422 goals and 976 points in 1,090 matches. He has 21 goals and 26 assists to go with a minus-8 rating in 61 matches this season. He had been Boston’s captain since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign.
Marchand has adapted to his new surroundings since the trade.
“He is part of the group, and he has had the opportunity to get all social parts out of the way,” Maurice said. “He dies to get into the game and play the game with the guys out there.”
Florida (43-25-3, 89 points) has been inactive since he published a 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
Panthers are bound with Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division, a point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The flash went to an 8-0 victory Thursday over the Utah Hockey Club (32-29-11, 75 points), which has dropped two games in a row.
Started goalkeeper Karel Vejmelka handed four goals on 11 shots on Thursday before being pulled halfway into the second period. Jaxson Stauber gave up four goals on 10 shots in relief.
“It was really a disappointment at how we came out, did not win enough battles, did not come on the inside,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “Everyone is in the same boat – coach, player. … we all have to see ourselves in the mirror. The good thing is that we play tomorrow.”
Utah Hockey Club fell behind 2-0 only 4:20 into the game and then allowed four goals during the second period.
“It was terrible, from beginning to goal, we didn’t almost play the style of play we wanted to play, and it showed,” Utah said Defender Mikhail Sergachev. “We have to make a decision whether we want to be in the playoffs or not. This is a kind of place on the face.”
Sergachev played his first game in Tampa since he was traded during the season. He was with the lightning strike from 2017 to 2024 and helped them win the Stanley Cups 2020 and 2021. He was honored with a video reimbursement during the first period.
“It’s hard to talk about it right now, frankly, after such a game,” Sergachev said. “But I said between periods that I really appreciated it. It was fantastic … Thanks for the warm reception. Fans are fantastic, everyone’s amazing. It would be a special night.”
-Field level media
