The Florida Panthers will be without defenseman Aaron Ekblad for a while, insider Frank Seravalli reported Wednesday.
Ekblad, who is on the long-term injured reserve, suffered a lower-body injury during the second period of Monday night’s game against the Boston Bruins.
General manager Barry Zito explained that Ekblad will not be absent for the rest of the season and will be back sooner rather than later.
To replace him in the lineup, the Panthers recalled defensemen Lucas Carlsson and Matt Kiersted from their Charlotte club of the American Hockey League.
Carlsson has three assists in two games for Charlotte, while Kiersted has yet to play a game since the start of the season.
In addition, Anthony Duclair’s rehabilitation is going as planned and the striker could return to play in December or January.
Muzzin on the injured list
The Toronto Maple Leafs placed Jake Muzzin on the injured reserve Wednesday with a neck injury.
To make up for the loss of Muzzin, the Leafs recalled defenseman Filip Kral from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
Muzzin, 33, was injured after colliding with Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller in the second period of Monday’s loss. He left the game and did not return.
The veteran defenseman missed 35 games last season with a concussion and missed the start of training camp with a back injury.
DeKeyser on trial with the Marlies
The Toronto Marlies signed defenseman Danny DeKeyser to a pro tryout on Wednesday.
DeKeyser appeared in three preseason games with the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season after also signing a pro tryout contract.
The American had previously played 547 games with the Detroit Red Wings, scoring 33 goals and collecting 113 assists.
The Jets still without their coach
Rick Bowness won’t be able to lead the Winnipeg Jets against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.
The 67-year-old head coach is still recovering from symptoms of COVID-19, which he tested positive for last Friday, and is waiting to make his coaching debut.
His assistant Scott Arneil will once again take over as has been the case since the start of the regular season.
Flyers claim Sedlak
The Philadelphia Flyers have claimed forward Lukas Sedlak, who was placed on waivers by the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Sedlak has played three games with the Avalanche this season and hasn’t registered a single point. He is back in the Bettman circuit after having played the last three seasons in the KHL, with Traktor Chelyabinsk.
A 6th round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011, Sedlak has 165 games of NHL experience. He had 15 goals and 27 points. Last season with the Traktor, he scored 18 goals and totaled 43 points in 49 games.
On Wednesday, the New York Rangers placed forward Dryden Hunt on waivers, while the Vancouver Canucks submitted Phil Di Giuseppe.
Hunt hasn’t had any points this season, while Di Guiseppe hasn’t played a game.
