Two key Panthers are out to start the season. Who could fill their spots?

Two key Florida Panthers forwards will miss at least the start of the 2026-27 season, coach Paul Maurice announced following the first on-ice day of training camp Thursday.

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Brad Marchand, who underwent surgery in August to deal with a lingering lower-body injury, is “going to take the month of October for rehab,” Maurice said, signifying he will miss at least the first 14 games of the season.

Meanwhile, fellow forward Jonah Gadjovich, who was a key part of Florida’s second Stanley Cup run in 2025 but was limited to just 10 games last season before undergoing neck surgery, remains out indefinitely.

“There’s a couple of things we’re trying to get sorted out,’’ Maurice said of Gadjovich. “Clearly, it has been a long-term issue for us and it has not been resolved. We’re still looking at different options, searching for some answers to see if we can get this back to playing.’’

Each plays a pivotal, albeit different, role for Florida. Marchand, who had 54 points (27 goals, 27 assists) in 52 games last season, has shown he can play anywhere on the Panthers’ top three forward lines and be an effective point producer even at 38. Gadjovich is part of Florida’s physical, emotional fourth line. He has 11 points and 239 hits in three seasons with Florida, a run in which he fought to become a regular in the starting lineup but has dealt with injuries throughout.

With both out to at least begin the season, which starts Sept. 29 when the Panthers travel to the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, who might fill their roles?

In Marchand’s absence, Sandis Vilmanis looks to have the inside track.

Vilmanis practiced as the right wing on Florida’s third line with center Anton Lundell and left wing Eetu Luostarinen — the role Marchand has primarily played since joining the team midway through the 2024-25 season in a trade with the Boston Bruins.

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Vilmanis, 22, made his NHL debut last season and produced five points (three goals, two assists) in 19 games and impressed on the international stage for his native Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February and World Championships in May.

“His ability to get a puck stopped in the offensive zone,” Maurice said of the Vilmanis’ strengths. “His stick is just so good. He’s a big, strong man. We also saw him have some range with the puck. He can pull it across his body and he can make plays.”

Should Vilmanis get the role, Florida’s top nine would be complete. The top line projects to be center Aleksander Barkov with Brady Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart on his wings. The second line would then be center Sam Bennett with Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk on the wings.

As for Gadjovich’s spot on the fourth line, that’s a little more up in the air.

Two spots on that line appear to be set in center Lars Eller and winger Garnet Hathaway, both of whom were acquired in the offseason. Eller plays a defensive-minded role at center, a skill set the Panthers covet on that line. Hathaway is similar to his predecessor on this Panthers line in A.J. Greer — a big, bruising forward who uses his physicality to his advantage but can also provide depth scoring.

For the final spot, it will likely come down to one of Cole Reinhardt, Cole Schwindt, John Beecher, Sam Lafferty and Bokondji Imama. Reinhardt and Schwindt were with the Panthers last season. Beecher, Lafferty and Imama signed two-way deals with Florida this offseason.

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