Panthers’ coach Maurice on Marchand injury: ‘Dealing with something we didn’t want to make worse’

Florida Panthers’ head coach Paul Maurice provided an update on Brad Marchand, who left Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after taking a hit from Bobby McMann late in the second period.

“(Marchand had been) dealing with something and we didn’t want to make it worse,” Maurice said. “We’re a little sensitive about injuries here now. That was a coach’s decision.”

The move came after Marchand attempted to evade a hit from McMann with less than a minute to go in the second frame. While the Leafs’ forward didn’t make full contact, it was enough to send Marchand to the ice and back to the bench.

Toronto won 4-1, thanks to goals from McMann, Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan. Carter Verhaeghe scored the lone goal for the Panthers.

Through 41 games in 2025-26, Marchand has 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points and 32 penalty minutes, leading Florida in all offensive categories. Now in his 17th NHL season, Marchand, a Halifax native, has 447 goals and 579 assists for 1,026 points in 1,140 regular-season games with the Panthers and Boston Bruins.

He has also played in 180 playoff games, where he’s played in 66 goals and 92 assists for 158 points and 207 penalty minutes. He won the Stanley Cup twice — once with the Bruins in 2011 and with the Panthers in 2025.

Florida is now 22-17-3 with 47 points, fifth in the Atlantic Division and two points out of a wild-card spot.