Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand had hoped to avoid surgery for his lingering lower body issues but in a video released earlier this week, Marchand said he did have a procedure.<\/p>\n
Marchand\u2019s video was released on Instagram and was his explanation why he will not be able to play in former Boston teammate Zdeno Chara\u2019s \u2018Last Shift\u2019 charity game next week in Slovakia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t be able to make Z\u2019s game,\u2019\u2019 Marchand says in the video post. \u201cUnfortunately, I had to have a surgery, was trying to fix a problem without surgery, but unfortunately that was unable to happen and had to kind of do it last minute. <\/p>\n
\u201cWith the time and recovery I am going to need, I won\u2019t be able to make it and play in the game unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marchand, who is believed to be dealing with a hip and sports hernia injury, could be out two months or more after having the surgery. <\/p>\n
The Panthers are expected to start training camp in about a month. <\/p>\n
Last season, Marchand said he aggravated his old injury \u2014 he previously had hip surgery as well as a sports hernia surgery while with the Bruins \u2014 in December. <\/p>\n
Marchand went into January with 23 goals and 55 points which led the Panthers. <\/p>\n
In January, the Panthers started to rest Marchand in certain games so he would be healthy at the Winter Olympics and play for Team Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Canada coach Jon Cooper also rested Marchand in some Olympic games.<\/p>\n
\u201dThe Olympics were a big goal that I had,\u2019\u2019 Marchand said in April. \u201cIt really had not hurt that bad at that point. ,\u2019\u2019 said Marchand. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn January, it got worse, but there was a point where it got better and I thought I was past it. Unfortunately it got really bad there at one point. So, we just had to deal with it here to try and find a solution to get better and be really prepared for next year.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Upon coming back and rejoining the Panthers, Marchand played in six more games (scoring two goals with four points) before Paul Maurice shut him down for the remainder of the season. <\/p>\n
Maurice told FHN earlier that Marchand just could not go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marchand ended his first full season with the Panthers by scoring 27 goals with 54 points in 52 games. He ranked second on the team in goals and fourth in points.<\/p>\n
After the season concluded, Marchand said surgery would be a last resort if offseason rest did not help his situation.<\/p>\n
General manager Bill Zito said on July 1 that Marchand\u2019s rehab appeared to be on track and they were not anticipating surgery. <\/p>\n
That likely changed once Marchand started ramping up his workouts to prepare for the season.<\/p>\n
\u201dThat\u2019s still a potential,\u201d Marchand said \u201cat the team\u2019s closeout day at the IcePlex. \u201cIt\u2019s something that we\u2019re \u2026 it\u2019s a last resort. \u201dThere\u2019s so much time here that we\u2019re not in a playoff position to where we\u2019re going to try and do everything we can to get around it without having surgery. But, yeah, it\u2019s not off the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Panthers are expected to start the season with Marchand back on the third line alongside Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.<\/p>\n
If Marchand is not ready to go by the start of the season, the Panthers may give rookie Sandis Vilmanis a shot on that line. <\/p>\n
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