FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers may have an unexpected opening on their forward roster heading into training camp, and a former 44-goal scorer who has been working out in South Florida could be the short-term answer.
Brad Marchand, 38, recently underwent surgery believed to be related to his hip and groin area and could miss all of training camp and the start of the 2026-27 season, Florida Hockey Now reported. That timeline has fueled speculation that the Panthers could offer unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine a professional tryout before camps open next month in Fort Lauderdale.
Laine, 28, carries deep connections to the Panthers organization. He and Florida captain Sasha Barkov grew up together in Tampere, Finland, where both played for Tappara. Laine also scored 44 goals as a 19-year-old playing for the Winnipeg Jets under current Panthers head coach Paul Maurice during the 2016-17 season, tallying 138 goals from 2016 to 2020.
The Finnish winger’s career has been uneven since leaving Winnipeg. He was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the COVID-shortened 2021 season and signed a four-year, $34.8 million contract there. He landed in Montreal, where he scored 20 goals — 15 on the power play — during the 2024-25 season. But last season was a near-total loss: Laine played in only five games for the Canadiens, recording no goals and one assist before needing surgery to repair a core muscle injury. Although cleared to return, he did not play in a game after October. Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference final without him, beating Tampa Bay and Buffalo in the opening two rounds.
With Laine still unsigned and unlikely to command more than a one-year prove-it deal, a training camp audition with the Panthers could boost his stock. Florida Hockey Now noted that Marchand’s absence could open long-term injured reserve cap space, though the Panthers have little salary cap room and few open roster spots. The expectation without Laine is that rookie Sandis Vilmanis would get a shot alongside Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.
The Panthers open their preseason Sept. 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes, with the regular-season opener set for Sept. 29 at Carolina at 5 p.m. on ESPN. Florida’s home opener is Oct. 10 against the Minnesota Wild at 6 p.m. Rookie camp is scheduled for late August or early September, with the main training camp to follow in Fort Lauderdale.