The Florida Panthers will be without top center Aleksander Barkov for the next 2-3 weeks with an undisclosed injury, reports NHL.com’s Alain Poupart. While Barkov left Wednesday’s game against Toronto after taking a shot to the ribs from Keith Yandle, head coach Tom Rowe stated that this is not the injury that will keep Barkov out of the lineup. He noted that the injury occurred a couple of games ago and that the 21 year old had been trying to play through it. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman adds (Twitter link) that Florida has placed him on injured reserve.
Barkov leads the Panthers in scoring this season with nine goals and 18 assists through 36 games and had a five game point streak snapped against the Leafs.
The injury opens up a spot on Florida’s top line alongside Jaromir Jagr and Seth Griffith. Center Nick Bjugstad, who has struggled mightily since returning from a broken wrist, got the first look in that spot last night against Montreal. Through 18 games, he has just a single goal and an assist but has put up at least 15 goals in each of the last three seasons.
Bjustad is too talented to have one lonely goal. Playing alongside Jagr should give him the boost he needs.