Florida Panthers Face Challenges with New Injuries
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The current Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, are facing a rise in injuries, including one suffered in an unusual accident. Coach Paul Maurice views this situation as an opportunity for the team to improve. Forward Eetu Luostarinen will be out for several weeks due to what the coach described as a “barbecue accident”. There is no defined timeframe for his return.Cole Schwindt, who was claimed last month to alleviate injury losses, is also on the injured list. Schwindt will need surgery for a broken arm and is expected to be out for two to three months. Luostarinen and Schwindt join a list of injured players that already includes Aleksander Barkov (ACL injury), Dmitry Kulikov (upper body), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body), Tomas Nosek (knee), and Matthew Tkachuk (groin). Barkov, Kulikov, Gadjovich, and Nosek still have months of recovery ahead; Tkachuk could start skating at the end of this month and debut in the season in December. Despite these setbacks, Maurice sees an opportunity. The situation has forced Florida to change its style of play, which could result in valuable lessons.We don’t have much experience with this. When you return and feel comfortable with the equipment, go ahead.
Paul Maurice, Coach
The coach added that, after the transfer deadline, the team will experience the biggest movement in the league, with the return of some players. He believes that the team can be better than in last year’s playoffs if they learn to overcome this situation. Rookie forward Jack Devine, who was part of two NCAA championship teams at Denver, is expected to make his NHL debut on Thursday in a home game against New Jersey.There’s a lot of good if you can capture, if you can learn new things, things you have to learn to survive. And that’s really, in a way, what we’re doing, trying to survive. When you have seven players out of your lineup, you have a problem. We can survive that and then learn through adversity.
Paul Maurice, Coach
