Florida Panthers see star winger at morning skate, game decision still pending

Jameson Olive posted that Brad Marchand was on the ice for morning skate Saturday, a real sign of life. Marchand has been day to day since leaving Tuesday's loss in Toronto before the third period.

Paul Maurice didn't rule him out for the game at Ottawa, which tells you the door is open. Still, morning skate isn't clearance, so warmups and Maurice's post-practice update matter.

I'm not pretending it's fixed, but seeing Marchand skate again feels like oxygen for this group. Even at less than 100 percent, his puck pressure forces rushed clears and creates second chances.

If he plays, watch Florida's first forechecker, because Marchand loves to angle defenders into bad rims. That plays perfectly against Ottawa when the Senators want clean exits to feed their speed through the middle.

If he can't go, the Panthers likely keep him as a true game-time decision and protect him for the long haul. Maurice already called the initial removal precautionary, and that tone matters in January.

Marchand was a third-round pick, 71st overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006, and he's still wired to play every shift like it's personal. He's also signed at a $5.25 million cap hit through 2030-31.

Saturday's opponent is not a soft landing, even if Ottawa's goaltending picture has been chaotic lately. Reuters reported the Senators brought in veteran James Reimer on a professional tryout as they search for stability.

That's why this Marchand sighting matters, because Florida's margin gets thinner when top scorers sit. The Panthers are built to roll four lines, but their best hockey still starts with an aggressive top six.

We'll hear from Maurice after practice, and that's where the real clue usually lives. Until then, treat it as good news, not a guarantee, and watch who takes his reps in warmups.

If Marchand plays, Florida gets its snarl back, and Saturday in Ottawa becomes a whole different kind of grind.

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