Brad Marchand thought his season — or worse — might be over.

The Florida Panthers forward said Thursday that a left knee injury suffered in early October first left him fearing a career-threatening result. He now hopes to return to games within the next six weeks or a little sooner.

"I've never been so happy to be out for this amount of time," Marchand said. "The injury could have been so much worse."

How it happened

Marchand was hurt at Los Angeles when he took a high stick late in the second period and crashed into the goal post. His left knee bent awkwardly and teammates helped him off the ice.

Florida soon learned he could begin on-ice rehab within a few weeks. That timeline held. Marchand said the knee is getting better every day.

Rehab alongside Barkov

Captain Aleksander Barkov is also nearing a return after a knee injury of his own. The two have been working through rehab together.

"Hopefully soon both of us will be back," Barkov said. "He's one of a kind."

Marchand, 38, is in his third season with Florida after 16 years in Boston. He helped the Panthers win a second straight Stanley Cup after a March 2025 trade and remains under contract for four more seasons after this one.