The Florida Panthers will place defenseman Aaron Ekblad on long-term injured reserve, general manager Bill Zito said Wednesday morning.
Ekblad, 26, sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of Florida’s 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday.
He is required to sit out at least 10 NHL games and 24 days by being placed on long-term injured reserve.
“He’ll be back. It’s not season-ending,” Zito said.
Ekblad has scored one goal in three games this season for Florida, which also will be without fellow defenseman Brandon Montour (upper body) when it plays its home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night.
Ekblad has 292 points (98 goals, 194 assists) in 557 career games since being selected by Florida with the top overall pick of the 2014 NHL Draft.
Montour, 28, has one goal in two games this season.
He has 147 points (43 goals, 104 assists) in 376 career games with the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and Panthers.
Also on Wednesday, Florida recalled defensemen Lucas Carlsson and Matt Kiersted from Charlotte of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis.
–Field Level Media