Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will likely miss the remainder of the regular season, but the team is confident he will be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs, head coach Paul Maurice said.
“It’s not new and we’re not unfamiliar with what it is. He has a very good idea of how long it will take. He is progressing very well,” Maurice said.
Ekblad will likely miss rest of the regular season, but Cats are “quite confidant” he’ll be 100% and ready for Game 1.
Maurice: “This is not new and it’s not unknown to us, what it is. He’s got a real good handle on how long it’s going to take. He’s progressing really well.”
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop)
April 4, 2024
Ekblad suffered an undisclosed injury during Florida’s game against the Montreal Canadiens late in the first period during a scuffle with Juraj Slafkovsky. The two players exchanged a few blows before falling together on the ice. Ekblad did not return to the match.
Maurice had no news from the veteran defender after the match. The 28-year-old played 7:06 before leaving, scoring a shot on goal in a 5-3 loss.
The former first overall pick has four goals and 14 assists in 51 games this season. He also missed several games with a lower body injury earlier this season.
Florida faces the Senators in Ottawa on Thursday night.
Couturier will miss the start of the trip
Sean Couturier will not be traveling with the Philadelphia Flyers who will face the Buffalo Sabers on Friday and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
General manager Daniel Brière mentioned that the captain of his team had upper body discomfort. However, he did not elaborate further.
Couturier appeared to be injured in the first period of Monday night’s game against the New York Islanders, after hitting the rail head-on. The 31-year-old veteran did not return to the game after this incident.
The Flyers captain has scored 11 goals and collected 25 assists in 70 games this season. He was a first-round pick, eighth overall, by the Flyers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
After these two games, the Flyers will still be on the road with visits to the Bell Center to face the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, and to Madisson Square Garden for a duel against the New York Rangers on Thursday.
The team will end its season with two games in Philadelphia against the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals.
Couturier’s file has been talked about in recent weeks when he was left out for two meetings. The team is going through a difficult streak with only two victories in its last 10 outings. The Flyers notably lost to the Canadiens, the New York Islanders and the Chicago Blackhawks in this sequence, three teams currently outside the playoff picture.
Colin Graff agrees with the Sharks
The San Jose Sharks have agreed to terms with 21-year-old forward Colin Graf on a three-year entry-level contract.
More than a dozen NHL teams had their eye on the Quinnipiac Bobcats player this season.
Graf excelled during his collegiate career and finished in the top 10 for the Hobey Baker, awarded to the NCAA MVP, the last two seasons.
“His quick thinking allows him to read the game impressively,” said Sharks general manager Mike Grier. He is a player who excels over 200 feet and we are very happy to have him join our organization. ”
After collecting 59 points in 41 games last season, Graf scored 22 goals and 27 assists in 2023-2024.
