The latest on Sam Bennett’s injury and his timetable to return to Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett is “doubtful” for the team’s season opener next week after sustaining a lower-body injury in their 6-3 preseason win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, coach Paul Maurice said Saturday.
Bennett was seen with a walking boot on his left foot at Amerant Bank Arena after the team’s optional morning skate Saturday before their preseason finale, which is also against the Lightning.
At worst case, Maurice said, the hope is Bennett is out no more than “a couple weeks.” That timeline could have him out for potentially five games — all three of the Panthers’ road games to start the regular season (Thursday at the Minnesota Wild, Oct. 14 at the Winnipeg Jets and Oct. 16 at the New Jersey Devils) plus the first two games of their first homestand (Oct. 19 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Oct. 21 against the Vancouver Canucks).
“He’s longer than day-to-day,” Maurice said.
Bennett’s last shift in that preseason game against the Lightning on Thursday ended with 10:55 left in the second period.
Bennett, entering the third year of a four-year, $17.7 million deal, is Florida’s second-line center when the team is at full strength. He has 50 goals and 54 assists in 144 games with Florida after being acquired from the Calgary Flames at the NHL trade deadline in the 2020-21 season.
With Bennett sidelined, Eetu Luostarinen could move from his spot as third-line winger to centering the second line.
“You’re not replacing Sam because he does unique things for team,” Maurice said, “but Luostarinen shifts into the middle seamlessly and whatever line he goes to makes things better.”
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