Injuries were a big issue for the Panthers last season, something that played a big role in them missing the playoffs outright after winning two straight Stanley Cup titles.  Unfortunately for them, there is already some uncertainty on that front heading into training camp next month.

Veteran winger Brad Marchand was supposed to play in a charity game this month honoring long-time Boston teammate Zdeno Chara.  However, he announced on an Instagram video that he is now unavailable to play.  He noted that he was hoping to avoid surgery and that rest alone would fix the issue but in the end, he had to have it at the last minute.

Marchand dealt with what’s believed to be a hip and sports hernia injury last season, one that ultimately shut him down in early March with a stint on LTIR following soon after.  That came on the heels of him dealing with those injuries the season before as well.  It’s unclear if the surgery pertains to this particular issue or not although the recent history suggests that it’s a reasonable guess.

George Richards of Florida Hockey Now suggests that Marchand could miss two months or more after the surgery, putting the veteran’s availability for the start of the season in question.  With training camps now just a month away, it certainly seems like he won’t be available at that time at a minimum.

Marchand missing any game action would be a notable blow to a Florida squad that has regrouped this summer, leading to expectations of a return to top form.  The 38-year-old was on pace for one of the best offensive seasons before being shut down, as he had 27 goals and 27 assists in just 52 games.  Despite the extended absence, he still finished fourth on the team in scoring.

It stands to reason that Marchand won’t have as key of a role offensively in 2026-27, given the team’s return to health.  But his absence would still be felt, especially in a very tight Atlantic Division that has high expectations.

To be LTIR-eligible, he’d have to miss at least the first 10 games and 24 days of the regular season, a determination that will likely be made during camp based on Marchand’s recovery.  That’s particularly notable as the team projects to be under the Upper Limit of the salary cap by just $34K, per PuckPedia.  If Marchand’s absence rolls into the season but is a short-term one, they won’t have the ability to carry a replacement player and would likely have to roll with a maximum roster size of 21 players instead of the allowable 23.

Photo courtesy of Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect.