Winger Brad Marchand’s time sitting out due to an upper-body injury could end Friday, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday.

The Panthers (43-25-3, 89 points), who host the Utah Hockey Club on Friday, haven’t suited up Marchand since he was acquired on March 7 from the Boston Bruins for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2027.

Marchand, 36, who had spent his entire career with Boston, last played on March 1.

“He has been on the ice for a little bit now,” Maurice said. “That’s probably the advantage to four days (off) in that we don’t lose another game. We’ll get him through a full practice (Thursday) and make an assessment. But we are shooting for Friday against Utah right now.”

Marchand skated in Wednesday’s practice at right wing with the second line, which Maurice said could be his assignment with Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich. Forwards Sam Reinhart and Bennett were given the day off.

Florida also is without winger Matthew Tkachuk (lower-body injury), who usually is at right wing with Bennett at center.

“We’re not jamming these guys back on their first available day,” he said. “We’re not bringing them in early. If (Marchand) says he wants a few more days, we’re good with that.”

Marchand has 21 goals, 26 assists, a minus-8 rating, 62 penalty minutes, 27 blocks and 66 hits in 61 games this season, which started as his 16th with Boston. He had said that he wanted to finish his career in Boston, but contract extension talks didn’t go well. Marchand is set to be an unrestricted free agent following the season.

He has 422 career goals, 554 assists, a plus-284 rating that is best among the NHL’s active players, 1,113 penalty minutes, 374 blocks and 1,1024 hits in 1,090 regular-season games — all with Boston since the 2009-10 season.

Marchand was a member of the Stanley Cup champions in the 2010-11 season. He has 56 goals, 82 assists, a plus-30 rating, 159 penalty minutes, 75 blocks and 195 hits in 157 playoff games.

A two-time All-Star Game selection (2017, 2018), Marchand earned NHL All-Star Team honors after the seasons in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

–Field Level Media