FORT LAUDERDALE — Florida Panthers veteran winger Brad Marchand, 38, will miss the entire month of October while rehabbing from August surgery, coach Paul Maurice announced at the opening of training camp at Baptist Health IcePlex.
“He’s going to take the month of October for rehab,” Maurice said. “That may mean he’s ready to play right at the end of it. It may mean it’s a short period of time assuming no setbacks.”
The timeline means Marchand will miss the Panthers’ 2026-27 season opener at Carolina on Sept. 29 and the home opener against Minnesota on Oct. 10. General manager Bill Zito struck a patient tone, saying he expected Marchand back “early in the season” and that the Panthers were “going to be very conservative in bringing him back. It’s not really a worry or a concern for me,” Florida Hockey Now reported.
Marchand said he aggravated a past injury in December but tried to play through it. Maurice and the Panthers managed his workload down the stretch: Marchand sat out 10 of Florida’s final 15 games before the Olympic break. While with Team Canada, coach Jon Cooper also sat him for a couple of games. Upon his return, Marchand played in six straight games before the Panthers shut him down for the remainder of the season. The August procedure adds to a lengthy surgical history that includes sports hernia surgery in 2024 and major hip surgery in 2022.
Even in a shortened campaign, Marchand’s production was difficult to replace. In 52 games last season he posted 54 points — 27 goals and 27 assists — ranking second on the team in both categories at the time of his last game. The likely future Hall of Famer has recorded 1,034 points and 1,153 penalty minutes across 1,152 career NHL games.
Maurice delivered a less optimistic update on fourth-liner Jonah Gadjovich, 27, announcing the forward is out indefinitely. “We’re still looking at options and searching for some answers on this,” Maurice said. Gadjovich was injured against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 25 and underwent surgery in November 2025, unable to return before the end of last season. In 10 games prior to his injury, the 27-year-old recorded three assists and 30 hits.
“I have nothing but respect for the man,” Maurice said of Gadjovich. “He’s in the gym. He does everything every day to give himself a chance. We’re certainly hopeful.”
The Panthers continue training camp with open practices Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. Florida’s first preseason game is Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m., with the regular-season opener at Carolina on Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.