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The Florida Panthers’ quest to become the first professional organization to claim a third title since the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000s is not off to a good start.
Sasha Barkov could miss the entire season after tearing his ACL just before the season began, and Matthew Tkachuk remains on injured reserve to treat the groin injury he suffered during the 4 Nations tournament.
Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov and Jonah Gadjovich have all missed time due to injury, and forward Eetu Luostarinen will join them after an unforeseen injury.
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Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen moves the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro/Image Images)
The Panthers said Luostarinen suffered burns in a “barbecuing mishap” and there is no timetable for his return.
“I’m going to list it week by week because we don’t have a lot of experience with this and part of it is when he comes back and feels comfortable with the equipment on,” head coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday. “He did not spend the night in the hospital. The doctors treated him in that regard.”
Barkov, Kulikov, Gadjovich and Nosek still have months of recovery left; Tkachuk could start skating later this month and could make his season debut in December.
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose. (Darren Yamashita/Image Images)
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Forward Cole Schwindt, whom the Panthers claimed off waivers last month to help with their injury issues, is now also on the injured list. Schwindt will need surgery in the coming days to repair a broken arm and the Panthers expect him to miss two to three months.
The “barbecue mishap” comes about a week after the New Jersey Devils announced that Jack Hughes would miss about eight weeks after he reportedly cut his finger after slipping and falling on glass.
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen raises the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol/Image Images)
Florida has reached three straight Cup finals, but currently sits in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 19 points (10-8-1). The last NHL team to win three titles was the New York Islanders, when they won four in a row in the early 1980s.
