The Florida Panthers have recalled goaltender Chris Driedger from the minor leagues. He’ll fill the Panthers’ backup goalie function after the squad dealt Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
To clear cap house for the transfer, Florida has positioned star Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body harm, per PuckPedia. Tkachuk suffered his harm within the second recreation of Workforce USA’s 4-Nations Face-Off match. It’s believed to be a groin harm, although specifics haven’t been revealed.
Tkachuk sat out of Workforce USA’s last spherical robin recreation then made an effort to look within the championship recreation in opposition to Workforce Canada, however solely performed 6:47 of the time beyond regulation loss. He has missed 4 video games since Florida returned from break. He was getting second opinions on his harm as current as final week, however will now have to miss as much as a month – per ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.
Florida has gained three of its 4 video games again from break – however Tkachuk’s absence nonetheless leaves a obtrusive gap on the highest line. He has continued to dominate throughout the board for the Panthers, with 22 objectives, 57 factors, 54 penalty minutes, and 84 hits in 54 video games. He ranks second on the crew in objectives and factors, behind Sam Reinhart in each classes.
The Panthers have promoted Mackie Samoskevich and Evan Rodrigues to hardier roles in Tkachuk’s absence.
Rookie winger Samoskevich has discovered his stride as of late, with seven factors in his final 11 video games. That burst has introduced him to 19 factors in 52 video games this season – a quantity that would soar with expanded minutes. Rodrigues had continued his constant two-way influence on the opposite facet, with 27 factors in 61 video games placing him on tempo to simply miss the 39 level mark he’s posted in every of the final two seasons. The promotions proceed by means of the offense and into the online.
Driedger signed a one yr cope with Florida this summer season and has spent the complete yr within the minor leagues. He narrowly leads the Charlotte Checkers with 20 video games performed, yet one more than fellow professional veteran Ken Appleby. Driedger has posted the worser stat line of the 2, with a .878 save share and 10-6-4 report. Regardless of that, it was onerous to think about Florida would flip in the direction of anybody else to fill their backup spot. Driedger has 67 video games of NHL expertise, with the majority coming between 2020 and 2022 in tenures with Florida and Seattle. He has a stout .917 Sv% and 31-24-5 report on his profession. Florida will hope he can rediscover these numbers shortly after a down yr within the minor leagues.
