Three Florida Panthers forwards near returns, lineup shakeup ahead

Florida is carrying a roster puzzle on this road swing, and the extra body might not be Matthew Tkachuk yet. Cole Schwindt is traveling too, and that matters for the paperwork.

Schwindt took a real step forward when he ditched the non-contact sweater after his arm injury. Florida originally brought him back in October on a waiver claim, so the staff knows exactly what his floor looks like.

He's played 10 games this season with two goals and seven shots, mostly living in that fourth-line grind. If he's cleared, he's the kind of simple, heavy option Maurice trusts on the road.

Matthew Tkachuk traveled as well, and he's also shed the non-contact jersey in recent work. Florida is still treating him carefully as he ramps up from his Aug. 22 surgery for a torn adductor and sports hernia.

He put up 57 points in 52 regular-season games last year, then added 23 points in 23 playoff games on the repeat run. That's the production Florida is trying to protect, not gamble with.

Florida can't rush his $9.5 million cap hit back into the lineup until he's cleared for contact and game pace. The math is tight, so the timing of any activation matters just as much as the talent.

Fans have been staring at every practice clip, hoping the Tkachuk return flips Florida's power play back to bully mode. Meanwhile, Paul Maurice said Brad Marchand is day to day and he wouldn't rule him out for Saturday in Ottawa.

On Friday, Armando Velez noted Schwindt was on the trip and had shed the non-contact sweater, hinting the open spot might be his, not Tkachuk's.

If Brad Marchand dresses, Florida gets back its leading scorer, 23 goals and 46 points in 41 games this season. Maurice called the earlier removal a precaution, and the club clearly wants this one handled carefully.

He carries a $5.25 million cap hit through 2030-31, and he still plays like he's mad at the boards. When he's in, the forecheck bites faster and the puck tends to come back Florida's way.

With Schwindt available, Maurice can keep fourth-line minutes tidy and protect the middle when Ottawa pushes pace. That kind of depth helps the Panthers roll three lines and keep the slot clean late.

The morning skate Saturday will tell the story, and I'll be watching who takes Marchand's reps. Either way, this trip feels like the first real turning point of Florida's midseason grind.

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