REPORT: Star Player Could Miss Entire Season

After signing a six-year extension with the Florida Panthers last September, forward Jonathan Huberdeau might be facing one of the toughest challenges of his career.

 

The 23-year-old got tangled up with New Jersey Devils’ Sergey Kalinin behind the net during their exhibition game on Saturday evening, and the latter’s skate came crashing down onto Huberdeau’s leg.

 

He would subsequently leave the game, as he was seen struggling to put any weight on his left leg. There are concerns that perhaps he might have severed his Achilles tendon, which could result in a minimum of six months of recovery.

 

In other words, there’s a chance that Huberdeau might be forced to sit out the entire 2016-2017 regular season schedule, which is bad news for a Panthers team that’s continuously been on the rise over the course of the last few seasons. Moreover, they will start the season without center Nick Bjugstad, who suffered a broken hand and will miss approximately one month of activity. 

 

Head coach Gerard Gallant told the Miami Herald: “It doesn’t look good right, but until we get an MRI, we don’t know a whole lot. He got cut pretty bad with the skate…”

 

Huberdeau is expected to undergo an MRI on Sunday evening. For now, he’s reportedly been stitched up and is wearing a walking boot.