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Connor Zary, Calgary Flames (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

NHL Rumors: Marchand, Panthers, Zary, Flames, Flyers

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Mar 28, 2025 3:05 PM ET

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, Brad Marchand is set to make his debut for the Florida Panthers on Friday night. Meanwhile, what is the status of Connor Zary‘s injury after getting caught up with Mikko Rantanen? Finally, why did Cam York dress for the Philadelphia Flyers but not take a single shift in the hockey game?

Brad Marchand to Make Panthers Debut

Per Panthers reporter Katie Engleson, “Per HC Paul Maurice, Brad Marchand will make his #FlaPanthers debut tonight vs. Utah.” It is not official, but the coach said, “We expect him to be a player for us. We’d say we’d get him through warm-ups and see, but he’s healed past that. We think we expect him to play.” That’s about as close as it gets until Marchand takes the pre-game skate and is submitted as part of the lineup.

Connor Zary Re-Injures Leg

Connor Zary left Thursday’s game after colliding with Mikko Rantanen. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports, “Further testing and imaging required to determine extent of injury; however, the initial assessment offered some encouragement regarding Connor Zary’s knee. Tough scene last night following an awkward collision with Rantanen.”

Eric Francis also offered an update and said, “A sliver of good news on the Connor Zary front, as his left leg isn’t broken, as some feared.” Concern includes a torn MCL and/or torn ACL, which would be season ending.

Coach Ryan Huska said when asked about the injury:

“It’s hard to watch. You don’t ever want to see a player go through that. You see how hard they work to come back, with their rehab, to try to put themselves in a position to come back. So our hope now is that the work that he’s done has strengthened his knee up enough so that the injury isn’t serious. We won’t know more until later on, as to what it’s actually going to look like. But we’re hopeful, I will say.”

Cam York Disciplined by Flyers After Altercation with Tortorella

In the first game for the Philadelphia Flyers without John Tortorella as coach, Cam York dressed for the team on Thursday, but didn’t take a single shift. After the game, interim head coach Brad Shaw called it “a disciplinary issue.”

Kevin Kurz of The Athletic and Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli provided an update on what happened. Kurz writes that there was an incident between York and Tortorella in Toronto that contributed to the coach’s dismissal. Kurz said it was clear both the coach and the player “crossed the line.” Seravalli added, “Further to @KKurzNHL report, sources clarify there was no physical altercation between Cam York and John Tortorella – but a heated verbal exchange that led to York’s discipline last night.” He added that the Flyers couldn’t scratch York because NHL rules don’t allow teams to voluntarily play short.

It’s clear that not only did Tortorella’s release result from his comments to the media, but he also got into a fight with a player to the point where the organization felt things had gone too far. Pierre LeBrun reported on Thursday that the Flyers had planned to meet with Tortorella on Tuesday, but within 48 hours, things had escalated so quickly that they felt no choice but to fire the coach.

Elliotte Friedman was asked if there was a chance this is the last time Tortorella will get a chance to coach. He hinted that it could be some time before he’s behind a bench again, but there may come a time when a team decides their close or need that coach who can push a team for two years.