The Florida Panthers announced in the last few hours that forward and team captain Aleksander Barkov will not play in Monday's game in Edmonton or Tuesday's game in Calgary. His presence for Thursday's game in Vancouver is still uncertain.
Barkov, 27, has 18 points, including five goals, in 19 games so far this season in Florida.
Since the Habs have the Panthers' first round draft pick, anything that happens to the Panthers will affect the Tricolore's fate as well.
If the playoffs started today, with 23 points in 21 games, the Panthers would not be in the playoffs. Their pick would be valid for the draft lottery.
Strange that he felt sick, played. Then felt sick again, didn't play. Got better, played again. And is now sick again that the team fears the rest of the team can get sick from him.
This has been going on for 2 weeks, very strange.-David R