Marchand's Injury Threatens Panthers' Repeat

0:00For the NHL, it's March 19th. Here's what's happening. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an update. The Florida Panthers are struggling to defend their title in the 2025-26 season with a record of 33 wins, 32 losses and 3 overtime losses. They trail the Detroit Red Wings by 13 points for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 6 teams in between. Still, a 3-peat Stanley Cup dream remains mathematically alive. Coach Paul Marisse announced that forward Brad Mershan's recent injury might need surgery, though the full severity is unclear. This comes as the gritty veteran continues to play a key role, despite his physical style. Marchand turns 38 on May 11th, 2026, making him the oldest player on the roster ahead of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Mershan's worry about father-time catching up, especially with nagging issues over his six-year contract. Since joining the Panthers in a surprising trade over a year ago, Mershan has delivered

1:03strong numbers. In 62 regular season games, he scored 29 goals with 29 assists. In last season's Cup run, he added 10 goals and 10 assists over 20 games with a plus 17 rating, nearly earning playoff MVP honors. Starting ahead, Mershan should return for next season's start, but the injury clouds is long-term output. Even so, his leadership and production have boosted the team's championship culture, making the deal look smart if they get one more solid year. The Daily News Now is presented by our sponsor. Do not just fall asleep. Drift into what you are listening to, S-L-L-I, solelypillow.com