Bennett suffered a lower-body injury during an Oct. 5 preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning

The NHL schedule makers didn’t do the Florida Panthers any favors with their season-opening slate.

Florida plays each of its first three games on the road, all against playoffs teams from last season.

Not ideal.

Heading into Opening Night in Minnesota, we knew that Sam Bennett would not be playing.

Following the Panthers morning skate at Excel Energy Center, Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice revealed that Bennett did not travel with the team and would not play on the road trip.

“He won’t be too much longer, but he’s not here,” Maurice said.

Bennett suffered the injury during Florida’s penultimate preseason game on Oct. 5 in Tampa Bay.

He left the game midway through the second period and did not return.

After leaving Minnesota, the Panthers will play Saturday in Winnipeg and Monday in New Jersey.

Florida was already starting the season shorthanded, with top defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour expected to be out until around mid-December as each recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.

With Bennett out, Maurice moved Eetu Luostarinen to the second line center spot, flanked by Nick Cousins on the left and Matthew Tkachuk on the right.

Luostarien took some big strides in his game last season and is someone THN Florida has viewed as a breakout candidate in 2023-24. 

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