Brad Marchand's offseason takes a worrying turn ahead of Panthers camp
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Brad Marchand has had surgery this offseason, and the Panthers star's status for the start of training camp is now up in the air.
It's not exactly a shock. Marchand spent the back half of last season managing a lower body issue that eventually forced the Panthers to shut him down.
He landed on long term injured reserve in mid March and never got back on the ice, closing out the year with 27 goals and 54 points in just 52 games despite playing through pain for weeks before that.
Even at closeout day in April, he told reporters surgery was still on the table, calling it a last resort he was hoping to avoid.
A tough offseason for a veteran leader
That resort is apparently where things landed.
Details on the procedure itself are still limited, but the update tracks with everything Marchand has said publicly since the spring about the toll the injury took on him.
He's dealt with hip and groin problems before, going back to surgery in 2022, so this isn't uncharted territory for him physically.
What's different is the timing, with camp now just weeks away and no clear word yet on when he'll be cleared for contact or full practice.
What it means for the Panthers up front
Florida has said publicly it expects to be healthy heading into camp, and losing its captain to any kind of setback complicates that picture fast.
Marchand was expected to anchor the top six alongside Florida's core.
If he's not ready for the opener in Fort Lauderdale, expect Paul Maurice to get plenty of questions about how the lineup shakes out early.
More clarity on a timeline should come once camp opens.
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