Although they aren’t dealing with as many injuries as last season, the Florida Panthers are still awaiting the return of two high-impact forwards: captain Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand. Although they aren’t returning immediately, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now shared some positive updates from head coach Paul Maurice.
The best update is that both Barkov and Marchand began skating yesterday. The former has been recovering from a left knee injury suffered in Florida’s second game of the season on October 1st, while the latter is working his way back from a knee injury suffered a few days later on October 6th.
Although it’s far from negative news, Richards added that neither player is expected to return before their projected recovery date. Marchand is still expected to miss the next three weeks, and Barkov the next four.
Both players will be eligible to return when healthy since Marchand is on the injured reserve, and Barkov has already satisfied the activation requirements for long-term injured reserve.
Additional notes from the Atlantic Division:
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Montreal Canadiens don’t feel pressured to trade netminder Sam Montembeault once he returns from injury. The news is surprising for a few reasons.
Montreal has received impressive play from rookie Jacob Fowler and signed Jakub Dobes to a three-year extension before the campaign. Even though he’s a pending unrestricted free agent, Pagnotta suggests that the Canadiens are comfortable keeping three goaltenders on the active roster unless General Manager Kent Hughes is blown away by a trade offer.
Winger Warren Foegele isn’t expected to return anytime soon after suffering a knee injury in the Ottawa Senators’ recent contest against the Vegas Golden Knights. After being hit by Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, Ottawa’s on-air host and producer Jackson Starr reported that Foegele will miss an extended period of time.
Foegele scored one goal and four points in 13 games before the injury.