Maurice said Florida has entered a 10-day window where both Montour and Bennett will likely return

It appears the Florida Panthers are on the cusp of receiving an infusion of key players back into the lineup.

The Panthers have jumped out to a solid 7-4-1 start to the 2023-24 season, and they’ve done it while playing without several integral pieces of the roster. 

Defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have spent the offseason recovering from shoulder surgery.

Center Sam Bennett was injured late in the preseason during a game against Tampa Bay, and then hurt again during the second period of his one and only game this season, Florida’s 3-2 overtime loss in Boston on Oct. 30.

Montour and Ekblad began taking part in regular practices with the team several weeks ago while Bennett was back on the ice during Friday’s morning skate at Amerant Bank Arena.

Florida kicks off a quick, two-game homestand Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes before wrapping it up with a Sunday 1 p.m. matinee featuring rookie sensation Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Panthers fans probably won’t get to see any of the aforementioned injured players this weekend, but once the Cats hit the road, it seems the door back into the lineup will be open for some.

We’ll start with Bennett, who may be the closest to returning.

“We’re at the point where he is going to get a full, hard practice in tomorrow,” Maurice said. “He feels good today. If he feels good coming off that, it’ll be completely the medical people and him deciding what game he wants.”

Maurice didn’t completely close off the idea of Bennett playing on Sunday afternoon, but it seems like a stretch.

“There is a chance it would be Chicago,” Maurice said. “I doubt that. I think because of what’s happened, we may just sit back and say we’re going to give him at least one more day, but he is going to be on that road trip for sure, is our plan.”

The roadie kicks off on Tuesday against the suddenly hot San Jose Sharks before wrapping up with a back-to-back Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles and Anaheim.

Asked for an update on Montour's timeline, Maurice indicated there is a chance we see the blueliner make his season debut sometime in California.

“The doctors weigh in on it, everybody weighs in on it, the player has to decide, then it’s going to be ‘how many practices?’ We are not putting five months into this to bring him back a day early,” Maurice said.

He went on to explain that there was no way any of Florida’s guys would return a moment too soon. There is no value to it. Not in November.

“We’re going to be as comfortable and confident as we can be that they’re ready to go,” Maurice said. “I do think there’s a chance for one of the them, possibly two, and that would be at the end (of the trip). I don’t think they’re coming in to start a back-to-back, we wouldn’t do that. It may only be one, but we’re now in a 10-day window I think that we’re probably going to see these guys back.”

Regarding Ekblad, Maurice had previously explained Montour would probably return sooner for the simple reason that he had his surgery a week earlier than Ekblad.

That would seemingly line up Ekblad to return later this month. 

All players have remained on schedule in their respective recoveries, so it shouldn’t be long, barring any unforeseen setbacks, that each should be back in the Panthers lineup.   

LATEST THN FLORIDA STORIES

Panthers welcome Carolina to Sunrise in rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Final

THN Archive: Pavel Bure called ‘game’s most dynamic sniper’ during incredible Panthers tenure

Three takeaways: Top line humming along as Panthers keep finding ways to win

Reinhart overtime goal completes Panthers comeback win over Washington

Former Panthers star Jonathan Huberdeau having tough time in Calgary