He then added: “I’ve never been so happy to be away for so long.”
Marchand was injured on October 6 during a game against the Los Angeles Kings. Going hard towards the net, he was brought down by Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke. Marchand’s left leg collapsed beneath him and he crashed into the boards in a heap.
“The injury could have been a lot worse,” said the 38-year-old, who is in his 18th season in the NHL. “I’ve never injured my knee before; I didn’t know what to think when I fell. I thought it might be career-ending, season-ending.”
The Panthers announced on October 9 that Marchand would miss six weeks. Coach Paul Maurice said last week he could be back in just three weeks.
It now looks like it will take about a month.
Marchand is nevertheless relieved to be able to return.
“When I knew it was going to be a few months or whatever, I was pretty happy that it was,” Marchand said. “It’s getting better and stronger every day. We’re working on it.”
Florida has also been without forward Alexander Barkov since he injured his left knee against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 1, when his leg collapsed during a board battle.
The two players skate alone, with forward Jonah Gadjovich. Maurice said the next step would be to reinstate the two into the main practice group.
“We are happy with their situation,” Maurice said last week.
Barkov would be out 6-8 weeks due to his injury, so a return in late November or early December seems likely.
The Panthers captain, who missed all of last season with a right knee injury suffered in training camp, did not provide an update on his potential timeline, but said he enjoyed working so closely with Marchand — a former rival who played for the Boston Bruins until he was traded to Florida on March 7, 2025.
“I hope that soon we will both be back,” Barkov said Thursday. “It’s been great to share the experience with ‘Marchy’, to see what he does, how he prepares.
“I like getting to know him better. I didn’t think I’d ever say that.”
The Panthers (9-5-2) visit the Washington Capitals (12:30 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MNMT, SN).
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