Panthers hopeful Marchand can return before end of regular season

The Florida Panthers are hopeful trade-deadline acquisition Brad Marchand can debut with his new club before the end of the regular season, head coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday.

Marchand is week-to-week with an upper-body injury he suffered while with the Boston Bruins on March 1.

The 36-year-old took line rushes with Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe at Tuesday's practice. Maurice called Marchand's participation "progress," but it doesn't change the initial status of his rehab.

The Panthers are expected to be without Matthew Tkachuk for the rest of the regular season due to injury and are now without Aaron Ekblad through Game 2 of the playoffs following the defenseman's 20-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.