Brad Marchand Returns From Surgery (And No, He Isn't a Panther)

Brad Marchand is officially returning to the ice after offseason surgery. The initial report from Daily Faceoff casually referred to him as "Panthers’ Brad Marchand," which is either the most cursed typo of the year or proof that we all slept through the weirdest blockbuster trade in NHL history.

Assuming he hasn't actually defected to Sunrise, the Boston Bruins are getting their captain and premier agitator back. Offseason surgery is always a wild card for a veteran with a lot of hard miles, but Marchand operates on pure spite, which usually speeds up the healing process.

"Daily Faceoff mistakenly referred to him as 'Panthers' Brad Marchand.'"

Boston desperately needs the spark right now. They just dropped a 4-1 game to the Minnesota Wild on October 4, and the offense looked like it was skating in wet cement for most of the night.

Injecting Marchand back into the top six completely changes the math for opposing defenses. Oddsmakers are going to have to adjust Boston's lines immediately, because a healthy Marchand tilts the ice and usually draws at least two penalties just by existing near the crease.

The Bruins host the Ottawa Senators next on October 5. Keep an eye on his ice time and whether he still has that signature burst, because if he is fully healthy, the rest of the Atlantic Division is in for a long winter.