The Florida Panthers continue to lose sleep over Sam Bennett´s injury causing a big downplay all through the Cats lineup and centre position.
The Florida Panthers got off to a shaky start to the 23/24 regular season partially due to their inability to remain consistent. Failing to find their rhythm, the one fans grew accustomed to during last postseason`s deep run. Injuries, then and now, have cut the Panthers just short and continue to set obstacles for Paul Maurice´s team to hurdle in order to fulfill their goals coming into this season. Sam Bennett`s injury is an early test and his return could go a long way toward assuring the team and its fans and executives are on the right track.
Injuries Stacking Including Bennett’s
Reaching the Stanley Cup Final, although losing on the Grand Stage, has not come cheap for the Florida Panthers whose roster suffered multiple big blows and bumps. Many of which have carried through to this budding season. Such is the case for defencemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour who are both set to return from their injuries in mid-to-late December, hopefully.
Sam Bennett, on the other hand, got hurt on a much different game than those played during the months of May and June. The second-line centre sustained a lower-body injury on his team`s preseason bout with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and although both teams have a history with each other and sparks tend to fly, the game was not worth it at all for the Cats to lose a player with the likes of their number nine.
Expected Timeline for Bennett´s Return
The Panthers have missed Bennett on the ice during their first five games and all signs indicate they will miss him at least one more time. When the Cats will host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night hope inside the locker room and team`s facilities remains the same: getting him back before leaving Sunrise on their current four-game homestand. The 22/23 runner-ups will clash against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday the 28th at Amerant Bank Arena. Granting a three-day margin for Bennett to return to action before taking off en route to Boston and kickstarting a very tough road trip up north.
Paul Maurice was asked about Bennett´s return and his response indicated the earliest he may be back is when Seattle comes to town. The struggling Kraken could set a big opportunity for Bennett to get back to his tempo and get his mojo back up and running.
Per HC Paul Maurice, Sam Bennett is “still day-to-day…he’s not going tomorrow, hopefully before we go back out on the road.”
— Katie Engleson (@KatieEngleson) October 18, 2023
What Bennett´s Return Brings to the Table
The former Calgary Flames centre has quickly become one of South Florida´s franchise’s most crucial players. Not only does he amass a big proportion of the Panthers offensive production but he also adds to the physical wear and hustler attributes. Both qualities this team has reckoned as their identity. Another one of Bennett´s main functions, that will not show up on any stat sheet, is that he acts as a scale on the forwards` lines. Allowing players such as Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen to take on third-line duties and excel in them. So far, the Finnish youngsters have not been a big factor in this team´s offence. A move down the lines could turn out fruitful on both the individual and team levels.
Star players such as Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart could also thrive from Bennett`s comeback. It would not only take some weight off their shoulders but help feed and boost their production. Although the latter has been the team`s best player up until this point, the former could make good use of the Canadian centre’s homecoming.
Maurice said today that there’s a chance Bennett practices with the main group on Thursday.
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 23, 2023
Moreover, Bennett has proven to be one crucial piece to the Panthers special teams. Being able to both score or set up goals on the man advantage and shut down opposing power plays when outnumbered. Besides, the 27-year-old never shies away from contact and occasionally drops the mitts, increasing his likeability on fans who cross out the days for his not-so-long, but highly awaited return.
Main Photo Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
