Brad Marchand in the lineup Friday for his Panthers' debut

Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand, who was acquired in a trade by the Panthers from the Boston Bruins last Friday, speaks during a news conference Monday, March 10, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

SUNRISE, Fla. — Brad Marchand is ready for his Florida debut.

The Panthers said Marchand -- who, because of an upper-body injury, hasn’t appeared in a game with Florida since being acquired in a trade with Boston three weeks ago -- will be in the lineup Friday night when the team plays host to the Utah Hockey Club.

It will be the first time in 1,091 NHL games, 1,248 when adding in playoff contests, that Marchand takes the ice in something other than a Bruins sweater. The plan is for the Halifax native to jump into Florida’s second line with Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich -- who grew up in New England watching Marchand play for the Bruins.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Samoskevich said of playing with Marchand. “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. It’s a lot of fun. Excited for the future with him. He’s such a good guy off the ice, too.”

Marchand had 21 goals and 26 assists in 61 games with the Bruins this season, and Panthers coach Paul Maurice said when the deal got done that Marchand, he believes, helps fill what Florida will need in its playoff run and its quest to win a second consecutive Stanley Cup.

“He’s had an incredible career,” Maurice said. “He’s a Stanley Cup champion, 1,000 games, 1,000 penalty minutes, lots of points. I don’t want to see it all in one game. You know how tenacious this guy is, how physical he is, how hard he plays. Then you get him in practice and you’re like, `Oh my God, he’s got hands on him.’ And you start to realize how good the skill level is there.”

It may have been strange at first, with the former captain of the Bruins wearing Florida colours after those teams had tough playoff battles -- both won by the Panthers -- in 2023 and 2024. But by all accounts, Marchand has fit perfectly into the Florida mix.

“He brings a lot of energy to the locker room, a lot of compete on the ice,” Panthers defenceman Gus Forsling said. “A huge veteran that’s going to be big for us.”

By Tim Reynolds

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS