Panthers Forward Evan Rodrigues Helped Off the Ice After Scary Incident, Returns to Game
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The Florida Panthers avoided being dealt a major blow in the season opener as Evan Rodrigues left the game early due to injury.
Rodrigues was injured in the second period of the Panthers game against the Chicago Blackhawks, the first game of the NHL season, after an awkward collision outside the Panthers net.
Rodrigues had struggled to get up from the ice, and was helped off the ice by trainers as he was unable to exit on his own accord.
Despite the concerns about what looked to be a serious injury concern, Rodrigues quickly returned to the ice later in the period, avoiding a major issue for Florida, already faced with health concerns at forward.
Rodrigues' Resilience Shines After Moment of Injury Concern
The Florida Panthers have been plagued with terrible injury luck to start the season, and the potential loss of Evan Rodrigues was another challenge for Florida in their quest for a third consecutive Stanley Cup title.
The Panthers are already without Matthew Tkachuk, who is recovering from offseason surgery for injuries faced during the Four Nations Faceoff.
Florida also lost captain Aleksander Barkov in the preseason after an injury while in training camp, with Barkov feared to be out potentially for the entire season, although he has been seen without crutches in a potential positive update for the Panthers.
Rodrigues, 32, was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, acquired in 2020 in the trade that sent Kasperi Kapanen back to Pittsburgh, the team that drafted him back in 2014.
Rodrigues had 15 goals and 32 points in 82 games last season for the Panthers, with two goals and 15 points in 21 games in Florida's cup run. In the team's 2024 win, Rodrigues had 15 points in 24 games.
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