Despite being held off of the ice on Monday, the Panthers expect their star winger to be in the lineup against Dallas. If Huberdeau does play, make sure he is active in your leagues because he comes in with five goals and 14 assists (19 points) in 16 games this year.
Hunt, 21, is an undrafted free agent, who has picked up eight points (5G / 3A) in 13 games with Springfield (AHL) this season. Hunt is expected to make his NHL debut on Friday because Jared McCann is battling a lower-body injury. Hunt has some offensive ability, evidenced by his 116-point (58G / 58A) season in Moose Jaw (WHL) in 2015-16.
Hanley is in his first season with the Coyotes organization and has picked up four assists in seven games with Tucson so far this year. The 26-year-old has appeared in 17 career NHL games, amassing just six assists.
Weegar appeared in three straight games, scoring one goal and averaging 14:01 TOI/GM, but will be replaced by Alex Petrovic tonight vs. the Ducks. Weegar has now been a healthy scratch for six of the first nine games of the season.
Weegar sat as a healthy scratch through the first five games of the season, but will draw in tonight vs. the Penguins. The 23-year-old defenseman had 14 goals and 22 assists (36 points) in 60 games with Springfield (AHL) last season.
Andersson, 20, was a second round pick (No.53 overall) in 2015 and has earned his first NHL call-up. Andersson has recorded three goals and 19 assists (22 points) in 50 AHL games this season. He could make his NHL debut on Saturday with Dougie Hamilton and Michael Stone listed as questionable.
Coleman, 25, was a third round pick in 2011 (No.75 overall) and has one assist in five games with the Devils this season. He has spent the majority of the year in Albany, where he has 18 goals and 16 assists (34 points) in 49 games. Coleman will replace P.A. Parenteau in the lineup on Monday.
Huberdeau was hurt in a preseason game and missed the first 51 games of the season, but will make his season debut tonight versus the Ducks. Huberdeau’s injury really hurt the Panthers, but he returns with them just outside of the playoffs. Huberdeau had a break-out 2015-16 season, scoring 20 goals with 39 assists (59 points) in 76 games. Expect him to be re-united with Aleksander Barkov, who also returns tonight and Jaromir Jagr.
In late December it was believed that Huberdeau would be ready to go in mid-February, but it sounds like he won’t be ready until the first week of March. The Panthers have had a tough time with injuries this season and Huberdeau couldn’t return soon enough.
Coleman, 25, was a third round pick in 2011 (75th overall) and registered 13 goals and 10 assists (23 points) in 34 games with Albany this season. He will make his NHL debut tonight in Edmonton.
The Panthers are still waiting for Huberdeau to make his season debut and he appears to be on track to play in mid-February. Expect Seth Griffith to continue to skate on the top-line, but Huberdeau should take that spot as soon as he is ready to go.
The Canadiens have recalled Hanley because Alexei Emelin’s wife is expecting, so Hanley is expected to replace him in the lineup vs. the Wild. Hanley has no points in five games with Montreal.
Hanley had no points while averaging 11:00 TOI/GM in five games during his call-up. He returns to St. John’s, where he has one goal and three assists in 10 games this season.
Huberdeau was coming into 2016-17 with massive expectations after a career-year last season. His injury will keep him out until at least January and opens the door for younger players like Jonathan Marchessault, who moved to the top line following Huberdeau's injury on Saturday.
Huberdeau was injured in Saturday’s preseason game against the Devils when the skate of Sergey Kalinin came down on Huberdeau’s ankle. Huberdeau had to be stitched up and is expected to undergo an MRI on Sunday. The 23-year-old winger was spotted in a walking boot and all signs point towards this being a serious injury. This would be a huge blow to the Panthers’ forward group, that is already missing Nick Bjugstad.
Backlund suffered a concussion while representing Team Sweden at the World Cup of Hockey and he will return to Calgary where he will be reevaluated this week. The 27-year-old has had a tough time staying healthy during his career, but is coming off of a year where he played 82-games for the first time in his career. With two weeks before the start of the regular season, Backlund could be ready for opening night.
Huberdeau, 23, is coming off of a career-year, having posted 20 goals and 39 assists (59 points). The former third overall pick (2011) has turned in back-to-back 50-plus point seasons and appears to only be scratching the surface of what he might be able to accomplish on the Panthers’ top-line with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr.
