Brad Marchand, Panthers receive major news from Paul Maurice on Stanley Cup champion’s return

Brad Marchand’s recovery from an upper-body injury has ramped up, with the 33-year-old star making significant strides en route to his potential debut with the Florida Panthers on March 28. As the spotlight remains on Marchand, head coach Paul Maurice added to the positive momentum with a crucial update on the return date of a key Stanley Cup winning defenseman.

The Panthers have weathered the impact of key absences throughout their roster as they gear up for a grueling playoff series against whichever opponent emerges in the Eastern Conference. The East is jam-packed with contenders, and no matchup will be a gimme once the NHL postseason begins.

Maurice and the Panthers are well aware of that, and they want to have every hand on deck for the postseason. As a result, they won’t risk rushing any of their players recovering from injuries. Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk’s injuries are the biggest storylines heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with both stars being crucial players in clutch moments.

However, the forward’s depth in Sunrise is noteworthy, and the defensive side of the puck may be where the attention should center, instead. That’s why Maurice’s latest update on injured Dmitry Kulikov has such an impact on Marchand and the Panthers.

Dmitry Kulikov #7 of the Florida Panthers looks on against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on February 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.

“There’s a chance Kulikov returns to the lineup during the last week of the regular season,” Paul Maurice thought out loud during his media availability, via Jameson Olive on X. “Kulikov will start skating next week.”

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Maurice confirms Marchand’s linemates

Although Maurice didn’t confirm whether Marchand will indeed make his first on-ice presentation with the Panthers’ shield, he did confirm who will play alongside the former Boston Bruins’ captain, who will be a game-time decision for the game against the Utah Hockey Club.

“If he plays, he’ll be on a line with [Mackie] Samoskevich and [Sam] Bennett,” Maurice announced after the Panthers’ morning skate.

Marchand was spotted on the second line during Florida’s open practice on Wednesday, where he joined Samoskevich and Tomas Nosek. Nosek had filled in for Bennett, who took a maintenance day.

Brad Marchand #63 of Team Canada arrives for the game against Team USA at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game at TD Garden on February 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts..

Familiar face

Bennett and Marchand have been through a lot in the NHL, with their relationship coming full circle. The most infamous moment came during the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when a controversial punch from Bennett left Marchand with an upper-body injury.

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However, the tension seems to have cooled after the two played together on Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off. As they now join forces ahead of the postseason, the incident seems like a distant memory—something they can both laugh about rather than quarrel over.

“With Matthew [Tkachuk] out of our lineup, there’s a place [on the second line] for [Marchand],” Maurice stated. “Some of it is just comfort. Out of all the players he has, he’s played a few games with Sam Bennett.”