The Florida Panthers will be forced to open their regular season without promising forward Jonathan Huberdeau.
The Panthers confirmed the 23-year-old to be out three-to-four months with a lower-body injury.
Huberdeau was injured in Florida’s 4-2 preseason win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. He left the game in the first period after Sergey Kalinin’s skate came down on the back of Huberdeau’s left ankle as the two fought for the puck.
The winger scored 20 goals last season and added 39 points in 76 contests with the Panthers. He owns 58 goals and 172 career points in 272 games since debuting with the team during the 2012-13 campaign.