Panthers News

EASTERN ATLANTIC

Aleksander Barkov • C • Panthers

Aleksander Barkov Cleared for World Championship

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (knee) will play for Team Finland in the World Championship, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. The Panthers captain missed the entire 2025-26 NHL campaign due to a knee injury, but he was medically cleared to play by team doctors on Wednesday. The World Championship will be played from May 15 to May 31 in Switzerland. Anton Lundell (ribs), who missed Florida's final 14 games, will also suit up for Finland. Lundell's usage will suffer next season with Barkov back in the lineup. Before his knee injury, Barkov was a point-per-game player for five consecutive campaigns. The missed year might affect his productivity in 2026-27.

4 days ago

Gustav Forsling • D • Panthers

Gustav Forsling Sits Out Season Finale

Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (back) won't play on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. The Swedish rearguard is dealing with a back issue, finishing the season with 28 points (two goals, 26 assists), 112 SOG, and 98 blocks in 80 games. During the Panthers' injury-hit season, Forsling ended up being the only player to make at least 80 appearances. Mikulas Hovorka will take Forsling's place on the blue line, suiting up for only the fourth time in the NHL. The 24-year-old is still searching for his first points in the big league,

5 days ago

Matthew Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk Rejoins Panthers Lineup Wednesday

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (personal) will return from a four-game absence on Wednesday night against the Detroit Red Wings, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. The star forward has been away from the team after becoming a father for the first time in early April. Tkachuk has appeared in 30 games this season, producing 13 goals and 19 assists. Last month, he rocked the Red Wings with five points (three goals, two assists) in two games. Tkachuk is projected to skate with Mackie Samoskevich and Eetu Luostarinen on the first line, replacing Tomas Nosek (leg) in the lineup. He will also be one of Florida's primary weapons on the power play.

5 days ago

Seth Jones • D • Panthers

Seth Jones to Miss Rest of Season Due to Broken Foot

Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (foot) will be unavailable for the final few games of the regular season, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. He suffered a broken bone in his foot during Tuesday's loss to Montreal. Earlier in the season, Jones missed time due to an upper-body injury and will finish the campaign with only 52 appearances. He posted 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists), 88 SOG, 61 blocks, and 47 hits. The Panthers' blue line has already been without Dmitry Kulikov (finger), Aaron Ekblad (finger), Uvis Balinskis (foot), and Niko Mikkola (lower body) to end the year. Mike Benning is a major beneficiary of the injury crisis and will join the first power-play unit on Thursday against Ottawa.

Apr 9

Dmitry Kulikov • D • Panthers

Dmitry Kulikov Done for the Season After Breaking Finger

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (finger) will miss the rest of the season, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. In Tuesday's loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Kulikov became the third Panthers player to break a finger late in the season. This happened a few games after Kulikov broke his nose. Health issues made it a frustrating campaign for Kulikov, as he was limited to only 19 appearances. The stay-at-home defenders didn't score a single point this season. Florida's defense is also missing Uvis Balinskis (foot), Aaron Ekblad (finger), and Niko Mikkola (knee), giving more fantasy value to Michael Benning and Tobias Bjornfot.

Apr 8

Matthew Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk Sits Out Tuesday's Game

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (personal) won't play on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. He has left the team to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Considering Florida has nothing left to play for, it wouldn't be surprising if Tkachuk misses several games. His absence will give Mackie Samoskevich a chance to skate on the first line against Montreal. The 23-year-old has grown his reputation recently, scoring in four consecutive games before he finished pointless in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh. He could be a good addition to fantasy squads, especially since Samoskevich will also log time on the first power-play unit.

Apr 7

Aaron Ekblad • D • Panthers

Aaron Ekblad to Be Out for "Weeks" With Broken Finger

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (finger) will be out for "weeks," according to head coach Paul Maurice. He broke a finger in Tuesday's win over Ottawa. There are only two weeks remaining in the regular season, so it appears likely that we have seen the last of Ekblad in 2025-26. He is set to finish his 12th NHL campaign with 26 points (four goals, 22 assists), 97 SOG, 103 blocks, and 84 hits in 72 games. The Panthers defense will also be without Dmitry Kulikov (nose) for Thursday's matchup with Boston. Tobias Bjornfot and Mikulas Hovorka will be inserted into the lineup for the game. Meanwhile, Mike Benning will get a chance to skate on the second power-play unit, making him a more attractive fantasy option.

Apr 2

Evan Rodrigues • C • Panthers

Evan Rodrigues to Have Season-Ending Surgery

Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (finger) will have season-ending surgery, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports. The 32-year-old broke a finger last week, and it was reported that he was expected to miss the rest of the campaign. With him now scheduled for surgery, Rodrigues' absence for the remainder of the season is confirmed. He will finish the year with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 69 games. Florida has also lost Sam Reinhart (foot), Brad Marchand (lower body), Anton Lundell (ribs), and Jonah Gadjovich (upper body) until the end of the season, so the team's offense will look very different in the final few games.

Apr 1

Sam Reinhart • C • Panthers

Sam Reinhart Won't Return This Season

Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart (foot) will be out for the rest of the season, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. Sidelined since mid-March with a foot injury, there's little incentive for the team to bring Reinhart back with the playoffs out of reach. The 30-year-old will finish the campaign with 29 goals and 61 points in 64 games. With Reinhart out of the picture, players like Mackie Samoskevich and A.J. Greer are poised to have bigger roles for the rest of the way.

Apr 1

Aaron Ekblad • D • Panthers

Aaron Ekblad's Hand Injury "Doesn't Look Good"

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (hand) may be out for the rest of the campaign after being hurt in Tuesday's win over the Ottawa Senators. The veteran rearguard injured his hand in the third period while blocking a shot. According to George Richards of Florida Hockey Now, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said postgame that Eklad's injury "doesn't look good." Dmitry Kulikov (face) and Donovan Sebrango (undisclosed) were also hurt on Tuesday. Due to injuries, Florida is already using a patched-up front line late in the season, and now the team could also be without several regulars on defense.

Apr 1

Sam Bennett • C • Panthers

Sam Bennett Rejoins Panthers Lineup Tuesday

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (personal) will return to action on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Bennett became a father over the weekend and has sat out two games. He is expected to take over as the first-line center on Tuesday night. It's been a disappointing campaign for Florida, but Bennett has enjoyed a career year. In 70 games, he has posted 25 goals and 54 points. Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk will join Bennett on the first line against Ottawa.

Mar 31

Aleksander Barkov • C • Panthers

Aleksander Barkov to Remain Out Until End of Season

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (knee) has been officially ruled out for the 2025-26 season by head coach Paul Maurice. Barkov has teased his return, mentioning in late February that it would happen "soon," and he rejoined practice earlier this month. However, since the Panthers are highly unlikely to make the playoffs, it wouldn't be wise for the team to rush Barkov back. The Panthers captain tore his left ACL and MCL on the first day of training camp in September. He was ruled out for 7-9 months. Florida's injury situation among forwards has forced Eetu Luostarinen and Jesper Boqvist into top-six center roles, giving them more fantasy value.

Mar 30

Evan Rodrigues • C • Panthers

Evan Rodrigues Breaks Finger Thursday

Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues broke a finger in Thursday's loss to the Minnesota Wild and is likely done for the season. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice noted after the game that Rodrigues is looking at a 4-6-week recovery period. Florida finishes the regular season on April 15 and is unlikely to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Across 69 games, Rodrigues managed 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 2025-26. He adds to the long list of injuries for the Panthers. Players like Jesper Boqvist and Vinnie Hinostroza are expected to take on bigger roles for the rest of the season.

Mar 27

Anton Lundell • C • Panthers

Anton Lundell Likely Out for Rest of Regular Season

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (ribs) has likely played his final game of the 2025-26 regular season. He has been ruled out for 2-6 weeks with a rib injury. "That MRI wasn't very good, so he's not on the near-term," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said on Wednesday. "... I wouldn't play him in the regular season or if we were fighting for (a playoff spot)." Lundell departed the lineup last week and has missed two games. The Finnish forward matched his career high with 18 goals and will finish the campaign with 44 points in 64 appearances. Florida's frontline has been decimated by injuries, though Mackie Samoskevich (neck) could return on Thursday against Minnesota. With so many bodies missing, he may find himself in a bigger role than usual.

Mar 25

A.J. Greer • LW • Panthers

A.J. Greer Handed a Three-Game Suspension

Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer has been suspended for four games for boarding Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary in Friday's loss. Greer was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for the incident. Before being tossed, Greer scored his 13th goal of the season. He has found the back of the net in back-to-back outings, taking advantage of increased ice time. Greer has also produced 11 assists in 68 games. He will be eligible to return to action on March 29 against the New York Rangers.

Mar 23

Sergei Bobrovsky • G • Panthers

Sergei Bobrovsky Shuts Out Oilers with 21 Saves

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was one of the top performers in Thursday's Stanley Cup Finals rematch against the Edmonton Oilers, posting his fourth shutout of the season with 21 saves in a 4-0 win. He became the third goalie with at least 20 shutouts for Florida. This was Bobrovsky's third win in four starts, bringing his record to 25-20-1. While the Russian netminder has a chance to record his third consecutive 30-win campaign, his performance levels have dipped in 2025-26. Bobrovsky has a career-worst save percentage at .879 and holds a 3.00 goals-against average.

Mar 20

Seth Jones • D • Panthers

Seth Jones Returns to Action Tuesday

Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (upper body) will make his long-awaited return on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks. He has been sidelined since suffering an upper-body injury in the 2026 Winter Classic against the New York Rangers. His return will be a big boost for the team. "He touches all areas. He's a power-play guy, he's a penalty-kill guy, he plays against the other team's best, and he's as good a defender as he is an offensive player," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said about Jones, who has recorded 24 points (six goals, 18 assists), 78 shots, 47 blocks, and 38 hits in 40 appearances this season. He will rejoin the top-four group on defense and quarterback the first power-play unit.

Mar 17

Sam Bennett • C • Panthers

Sam Bennett Available Tuesday

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (undisclosed) will return to action on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. He wasn't available for Sunday's matchup with Seattle due to an undisclosed injury. Bennett will rejoin the top six and the first power-play unit. Thanks to averaging a point per game over his last eight appearances, Bennett has come close to his new scoring record. He has accumulated 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in 65 games, just one shy of his career-high of 51 points from last season. Vancouver is the worst team in the National Hockey League, so Bennett is in a great spot to set a new career-high on Tuesday night.

Mar 17

Daniil Tarasov • G • Panthers

Daniil Tarasov Starting Against Kraken

Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov will start on Sunday night against the Seattle Kraken, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. Sunday's game isn't part of a back-to-back, but Panthers head coach Paul Maurice will give his No. 2 a chance to impress. Tarasov has made 21 starts this season, posting a 9-10-2 record, a 2.82 goals-against average, and a .901 save percentage. He catches the Kraken at a good time, as they have gone just 1-4-0 across the last two games, and there could be a few heavy legs on the squad after Saturday's tilt against Vancouver.

Mar 15

Carter Verhaeghe • C • Panthers

Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell Expected to Return Sunday

Florida Panthers forwards Carter Verhaeghe (undisclosed) and Anton Lundell (undisclosed) will rejoin the lineup on Sunday against the Seattle Kraken, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. Both players were held out of Thursday's 2-1 overtime victory against Columbus. With Sam Bennett (undisclosed) unavailable on Sunday, Lundell and Evan Rodrigues will serve as the top-six centers. Verhaeghe, who netted two goals in his last appearance against Detroit, is expected to link up with Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevich. Lundell will partner with Eetu Luostarinen and Matthew Tkachuk.

Mar 15

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