Dmitry Kulikov, Panthers Defenseman, Out for Five Months
Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov joins the team’s injured list of the Stanley Cup champion team. Coach Paul Maurice announced that Kulikov will be out for five months due to shoulder surgery to repair a labrum tear, suffered in the 2-1 victory against the Flyers.
The absence of Kulikov is the most recent in a series of injuries for the Panthers, who are looking to become the first team to win three consecutive titles since the New York Islanders.
The captain and star center, Aleksander Barkov, will be out for seven to nine months due to a knee injury. In addition, star forward Matthew Tkachuk will be out until December, at the earliest, due to a muscle tear. To this list is added Tomas Nosek, also with a long-term injury.
If Kulikov’s recovery goes as planned, his return to the Panthers’ lineup could be in mid-March.
Kulikov, who was selected by the Panthers in 2009, returned to the team at the start of the 2023-24 season. In 76 games, he accumulated 20 points and averaged more than 16 minutes per game, contributing to the first championship in the club’s history. In the previous season, he scored 13 points in 70 games, averaging more than 19 minutes per game, in a campaign that culminated in the second consecutive title.
Since his return, Kulikov ranks third on the team in shorthanded minutes and fourth in total minutes played 5-on-5, according to statistics from the 2023-24 season.
Despite the losses, the Panthers maintain their main defensive group. Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling form the first pair, while Seth Jones and Niko Mikkola make up the second. Uvis Balinskis and Jeff Petry are the options for the third defensive pair.
