MIAMI: Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad had surgical procedure Monday and is probably going carried out for the season, that means the Panthers must proceed their playoff push with out certainly one of their finest gamers.
The Panthers mentioned that Ekblad will want 12 weeks to get better. They didn’t reveal the extent of the injury hockey groups are not often particular on accidents, and the crew solely went so far as to say he had surgical procedure to restore a fracture in his decrease extremities.”
But it was evident when he obtained harm Sunday evening at Dallas that it was a severe matter, and Monday’s announcement solely confirmed that. The 12-week timeframe means he wouldn’t be capable of play once more till late June on the earliest.
To be and not using a participant of Aarons caliber and character is an irreplaceable loss to our hockey membership, Panthers basic supervisor Bill Zito mentioned. Aaron is an extremely pushed and proficient younger participant and an incredible chief for our crew. He has the heartfelt help of our group, his teammates and followers as we want him the very best in his restoration and his eventual return. Despite Aarons absence from our lineup, we’re assured in our teams resiliency and motivation as we transfer ahead.
The playoffs begin within the second week of May, and the Stanley Cup Final will probably start in late June or early July on the absolute newest. And there’s no approach of understanding if Ekblad shall be prepared, even when the Panthers who haven’t received a playoff sequence since 1996 make it that far.
He was nice this yr,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville mentioned Sunday. I feel he had so many video games the place he was dominant defensively, his offensive contributions becoming a member of the assault, including a special dimension to our energy play, vital minutes, matchups, controlling the outcomes of video games. You couldnt ask for something extra.
Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar had been one of many high defenseman pairings within the NHL this season. Ekblad had 11 targets and 11 assists for the Panthers this season, and his 878 minutes logged on the ice led the crew by a large margin.
Ekblad obtained harm halfway by the second interval of Sunday’s sport after a success from Dallas defenseman Esa Lindell. Ekblad fell very awkwardly and teammates mentioned he might be heard screaming in ache on the ice. An air solid was ultimately placed on his left leg and Ekblad was taken off the ice on a stretcher.
He was in a position to fly residence with the crew Sunday evening. Florida begins a four-game homestand Tuesday in opposition to Dallas.
The Panthers are effectively on their method to the playoffs. At 22-9-4, they’re third within the Central Division, solely two factors getting into Monday out of first and 11 factors away from fifth-place Chicago. The high 4 groups in every division go to the playoffs; Florida has 21 common season video games left, Chicago 20.
(*12*)It’s going to be powerful to do with out him,” Panthers ahead Jonathan Huberdeau mentioned. But we’re going to be there for him and we’re going to help him.”
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