The Florida Panthers’ 2025–26 season continues to be defined by a relentless wave of injuries. Head coach Paul Maurice confirmed Thursday that defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Dmitry Kulikov are the latest regulars to be sidelined due to upper-body injuries.
Ekblad suffered a fractured right hand after blocking a shot during a late penalty kill. Despite the injury, Ekblad stayed on the ice to finish the shift, though he was visibly unable to grip his stick. In 72 games this year, Ekblad has scored four goals and 22 assists for 26 points.
Kulikov exited earlier in the third period after taking a puck to the face, with head coach Paul Maurice later revealing that the Russian rearguard was going to need a CT scan. Kulikov was sidelined for five months after getting hurt just two games into the season and hasn’t registered a point in his 17 appearances.
The two join Aleksander Barkov, who suffered an ACL and BCL injury that has knocked him out for the entire season. Brad Marchand has been out for the past month with a lower-body injury, with Sam Reinhart likely done for the season as well. Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, Cole Schwindt, Jonah Gadjovich, Niko Mikkola and Uvis Balinskis are all Florida regulars who are out of commission right now.
To fill the massive holes on the blueline, the Panthers recalled Tobias Björnfot and Mikulas Hovorka from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday.
The Panthers (36-35-3) are last in the Atlantic Division, and could officially be eliminated from postseason contention on Thursday.