Huge update on Brad Marchand’s Panthers debut

Things are about to get weird(er) in the NHL. There is a strong possibility that, on Friday, fans across the world will see Brad Marchand in a Panthers’ uniform.

According to head coach Paul Maurice, the staff and Marchand have targeted Friday night’s game against the Utah Hockey Club as the former Boston Bruins captain’s debut for Florida.

It was one of the most notable trade deadline transactions when the Panthers made a last-second move to acquire Marchand from the Bruins. A move that no one expected, but that now will hit hard when the veteran forward will take the ice as a Panther.

Per Florida head coach Paul Maurice, the team is targeting Friday’s game vs. Utah for Marchand’s debut, though he wants to see him through a full practice tomorrow and then will make an assessment.

No guarantee, but that’s the hope.

Since the stunning trade, Marchand has been occasionally practicing with his new team, but some fans out of Boston are still pinching themselves. Marchand has been out of the lineup since sustaining an upper-body injury on March 1st when he was still in Boston. 

Before the injury and subsequent trade, Marchand was struggling in Boston, posting the worst season of his career though he was doing everything he could to hold the Bruins together. He remains on pace for a respectable 63 points this season.

Florida could surely benefit from the addition of Marchand to its lineup as the Panthers have gone 3-4-0 in their last seven as a result, dropping back into a tie with the Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Let’s get ready to see Brad Marchand in a Panthers’ jersey folks.