SUNRISE - The Florida Panthers are no strangers to adversity this season, especially when it comes to injuries. Head coach Paul Maurice, known for his humor, finds little to laugh about as his roster continues to be decimated.
Take the bizarre incident with Eetu Luostarinen, who missed eight games after suffering burns from a gas grill explosion. Maurice quipped, “When you start blowing up barbecues, you start to think, what’s happening?” Though he tried to keep it light, the situation is anything but amusing.
The Panthers anticipated Matthew Tkachuk’s 3-4 month absence following surgery in August, but Tomas Nosek’s knee surgery came as an unwelcome surprise. The blows kept coming, with Sasha Barkov sidelined for the year in September.
Thursday night added another chapter to this saga as Evan Rodrigues broke a finger during his first shift against the Minnesota Wild. He’s likely out for the next few weeks, joining Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, Niko Mikkola, Jonah Gadjovich, and others who might have played their last game this season.
Marchand’s lingering issues and Reinhart’s foot injury are significant setbacks, and while some injuries like Barkov’s knee might not be linked to their deep playoff runs, the sheer volume is staggering.
Maurice’s comment, “The most dangerous job in sports right now is to play for the Florida Panthers,” highlights the dire situation. With 425 games missed due to injury and nine players currently sidelined, including Rodrigues, the team’s struggles are understandable.
Financially, it’s a tough pill to swallow. With $40 million of their $88-million salary cap sitting in the gym, winning becomes a tall order. The Panthers find themselves 14 points out of a playoff spot with only 11 games remaining.
Tkachuk, who returned in January, summed it up: “Just another story of the year.”
CURRENT FLORIDA PANTHERS INJURIES
- Evan Rodrigues* (broken finger)
- Sam Reinhart* (foot)
- Niko Mikkola* (knee)
- Mackie Samoskevich (neck laceration)
- Anton Lundell* (upper body)
- Cole Schwindt (lower body)
- Uvis Balinskis* (fractured foot)
- Brad Marchand* (lower body)
- Sasha Barkov* (knee)
- Jonah Gadjovich* (upper body)
- Potentially out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season
ON DECK: GAME No. 72
FLORIDA PANTHERS at NEW YORK ISLANDERS