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Brad Marchand is set to make his debut in Florida.
The Panthers announced that Marchand, who has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since being traded from Boston three weeks ago, will be in the lineup on Friday night when the team faces off against the Utah Hockey Club.
WATCH BELOW: Panthers coach Paul Maurice shares what fans can expect from Brad Marchand.
Brad Marchand, a former long-time Boston Bruins player, was acquired by the Florida Panthers three weeks ago. Despite being sidelined due to an upper-body injury since the trade, Marchand is set to make his debut with the Panthers on Friday night when they face the Utah Hockey Club. This will be the first time in 1,091 NHL games — 1,248 when including playoffs — that Marchand will play in a jersey other than the Bruins’. The Panthers plan to slot him into the second line alongside Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich, who grew up in New England watching Marchand play for Boston.
Samoskevich expressed excitement about playing with Marchand, praising his skills and playmaking ability. “He’s such a good player. So silky. I feel like when he has the puck, he sees you — he’s got eyes in the back of his head,” Samoskevich said. Marchand had 21 goals and 26 assists in 61 games with the Bruins this season, and Panthers head coach Paul Maurice believes that Marchand will be a key asset to Florida’s playoff run and their pursuit of a second consecutive Stanley Cup.
Maurice spoke highly of Marchand’s career, calling him a “Stanley Cup champion” and highlighting his combination of physicality and skill. “He’s had an incredible career,” Maurice said. “You know how tenacious this guy is, how physical he is, how hard he plays.” Although it was initially odd to see Marchand in Panthers colors after intense playoff battles with the Bruins, he has quickly adjusted and has been praised for his energy and leadership.
“He’s a huge veteran that’s going to be big for us,” said Panthers defenseman Gus Forsling.