Brad Marchand and the Florida Panthers simply can’t climb out of the losing pit they find themselves in. With morale slowly—but steadily—trending downward, head coach Paul Maurice’s hand won’t tremble to make abrupt decisions in the 2025-26 NHL season. Now, one of the most experienced players on the roster will serve as a healthy scratch.

Coming into the NHL campaign, Marchand the Panthers knew they were in for a rollercoaster of a year. If the offseason had been chaotic, the regular season would be a whole different beast.

With that in mind, the organization rolled the dice on veteran defenseman Jeff Petry. However, only 25 games into the season, the decision seems to have backfired. Petry hasn’t had the production Maurice and company expected, so he is now being taken out of the lineup.

Panthers making changes to the lineup

As reported by NHL.com’s George Richards, Petry will not be on the lineup as the Panthers gear up to host the Nashville Predators. With no injuries, setbacks, or further explanations given for the decision, all signs indicate the 37-year-old blueliner (who turns 38 on December 9th) will serve as a healthy scratch.

Jeff Petry #2 of the Florida Panthers

Jeff Petry #2 of the Florida Panthers

Donavan Sebrango will slot back into the lineup, filling the vacant spot alongside Uvis Balinskis on the third defensive pairing. The reactions all over social media indicate the fans approve of the lineup change. However, Sunrise will only be truly happy if it leads to the Cats snapping their current three-game losing streak.

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Panthers must end the hex

Florida has dropped its last four home games at Amerant Bank Arena. The barn in Sunrise has seen another Stanley Cup championship banner rise to the rafters and a state-of-the-art jumbotron light up center ice for the 2025-26 campaign. However, the product on the ice has been far from meeting expectations. Though it’s still very early, the dreams of a three-peat in the NHL are beginning to feel like fantasy.

The Panthers may find a scapegoat in Petry—who has endured some very rough outings—but Marchand and the rest of the team know they hold the key to saving the season. They could go down the blaming road, pointing fingers at one another, or they can rally to get back on track. Whether that’s with Petry in or out of the lineup, all that matters is finding a way to right the ship—or better yet, the airboat in the Everglades.