Report: Panthers’ Brad Marchand Expected to Miss Weeks With Leg Injury

Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand is reportedly week-to-week after suffering a left leg injury during Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

Marchand underwent an MRI on Thursday, which is expected to provide a clearer picture of the injury’s severity, according to TSN. However, the initial assessment suggests the veteran forward could be sidelined for weeks rather than months.

The 38-year-old suffered the injury late in Florida’s 2-1 victory over the Kings in Los Angeles on Tuesday. After taking a stick to the face, Marchand twisted awkwardly and collided with a goalpost, causing his leg to bend backward.

Marchand was unable to put weight on the injured leg and required assistance from his teammates to leave the ice. He was subsequently helped into the dressing room as the Panthers awaited further information about his condition.

The injury comes shortly after Marchand returned to the lineup following an absence at the beginning of the season. He missed Florida’s first two games while recovering from reported hip and sports hernia issues before appearing in the team’s next two contests, recording one goal.

A veteran of more than 1,100 NHL games, Marchand previously spent the majority of his career with the Boston Bruins before joining Florida. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and has accumulated 1,035 career points, including 452 goals and 583 assists, since making his NHL debut in October 2009.

Marchand’s potential absence presents another challenge for the Panthers, who recently lost forward Aleksander Barkov to a leg injury. Barkov is expected to miss more than a month, leaving Florida without another key contributor during the early stages of the season.

With both forwards dealing with leg injuries, the Panthers will be hoping Marchand’s MRI results offer encouraging news and that his recovery does not extend beyond the initial week-to-week timeline.