The Florida Panthers suffered a big blow on Sunday with the loss of Jonathan Huberdeau for three to four months.
The 23-year old has a lacerated lower leg and will be any to skate when Florida's season begins this coming week. Florida already lost Nick Bjugstad with a broken hand and will enter the season severely shorthanded.
Huberdeau represents one of Florida's best players with 59 points during the team's successful 2015-16 season. Huberdeau brought energy and production to the ice on a daily basis and the team will be hard pressed to replace him. The Panthers could find themselves behind without the necessary pieces to come back on some nights.
The solid 2015-16 campaign for Huberdeau followed on a 15-goal year in 2014-15. It was the third season in a row that Huberdeau set new career-highs in goals and points. That progress was expected to continue in the upcoming year as Huberdeau continued to take on a larger role with the team.
Just over a month ago, Florida committed a large part of its future to Huberdeau with a six-year deal valued at over $35 million. That new long-term deal will not begin until after the 2016-17 season. Luckily for Huberdeau and the team, this is an injury that he should be able to return at full capacity from.
Florida's season will begin on Thursday evening at home against the New Jersey Devils.
