FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Brad Marchand could make his Florida Panthers debut as soon as Friday, coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday.
Marchand, who was acquired from the Boston Bruins on March 7 for a conditional second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, has been out since March 1 with an upper-body injury. He had been considered week to week but has been skating with the Panthers since March 11.
Florida, which hosts the Utah Hockey Club on Friday (7 p.m. ET; Utah16, SCRIPPS, NHLN, SNW, SNO, SNE), has not played since a 4-3 shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
“He has been on the ice for a little bit now,” Maurice said. “That’s probably the advantage to four days [off] in that we don’t lose another game. We’ll…