Panthers coach Maurice: ‘We’re within two weeks’ of Barkov, Marchand returning

The Florida Panthers have been getting by at less than full strength so far this season, but it appears they’re getting closer to the return of two important forwards.

On Tuesday, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice suggested that center Aleksander Barkov and winger Brad Marchand are within two weeks of getting back into Florida’s lineup.

Barkov, 31, suffered a lower-body injury in just the second game of the Panthers’ season. Florida’s captain missed all of last season with a right knee injury. In the 2024-25 season, Barkov notched 20 goals and 51 assists for 71 points in 67 games, before contributing six goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 23 playoff games en route to the Panthers winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship.

The Finnish national was selected second overall by Florida in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Now in his 13th season with the Panthers, Barkov has won three Selke Trophies and is the franchise’s all-time scoring leader.

Marchand, 38, has been out since suffering a leg injury during a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on October 6. He also missed Florida’s first two games of the season while recovering from offseason surgery for an unspecified injury.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has a goal and no assists in two games this season. Last season, Marchand put up 27 goals and 27 assists for 54 points in 52 games for the Panthers, finishing fourth on the team in scoring.

Acquired by the Panthers from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a conditional second-round pick midway through the 2024-25 season, Marchand played a key role in the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run that season, registering 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points over 23 playoff games.

Florida finishes up a three-game road trip against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.