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The Florida Panthers’ quest to become the first professional organization to win a three-peat since the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000s didn’t get off to a great start.
Sasha Barkov could miss the entire season after tearing his ACL just before the season started, and Matthew Tkachuk remains on injured reserve to rehab the groin injury he suffered during the 4 Nations tournament.
Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov and Jonah Gadjovich 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 at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
The Panthers said Luostarinen suffered burns in a “barbecue accident” and there was no timetable for his return.
“I’m going to list him week to week because we don’t have a lot of experience in that area and part of that happens is him coming back and feeling comfortable with the equipment,” head coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday. “He did not spend the night in the hospital. He was seen by doctors in this regard.”
Barkov, Kulikov, Gadjovich and Nosek all still have months to go to recover; Tkachuk could start skating by the end of the month and could make his season debut in December.
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen during the first period against the Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)
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Forward Cole Schwindt, who the Panthers claimed off waivers last month to address their injury issues, is now on injured reserve himself. Schwindt will have surgery in the coming days to repair a broken arm, and the Panthers expect him to be out for two to three months.
This “barbecue accident” comes about a week after the New Jersey Devils announced that Jack Hughes would be out about eight weeks after cutting his finger after slipping and falling on a window.
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen lifts the Stanley Cup after winning Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol/Imagn 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 achieve a three-peat was the New York Islanders, when they won four in a row in the early 1980s.
