Panthers Lose Kulikov to Injury for Rest of Season

Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov suffers another setback, this time a broken finger, as Florida's injury woes continue.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:26am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a hockey player's injured hand or finger, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in muted tones of navy, gray, and olive green, conveying the physical toll of the sport.Kulikov's latest injury setback underscores the Panthers' season-long struggles with health and depth on the blue line.NYC Today

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will miss the rest of the 2025-26 NHL season after suffering a broken finger in Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens. This is the latest in a string of injuries for Kulikov, who had just returned to the lineup in March after missing five months with a shoulder injury.

Why it matters

The Panthers have been plagued by injuries all season, and Kulikov's latest setback is another blow to a team fighting for playoff positioning. The loss of a veteran defenseman like Kulikov could impact the team's performance down the stretch.

The details

Kulikov broke his finger in the Panthers' 4-3 shootout loss to the Canadiens on Tuesday. He had already been playing with a broken nose, and joins teammates Evan Rodrigues and Aaron Ekblad on the list of Panthers players sidelined by finger injuries this season. Head coach Paul Maurice said Kulikov will be out for the remainder of the regular season.

  • Kulikov suffered a shoulder injury in Game 2 against the Flyers earlier this season, forcing him to miss five months.
  • Kulikov returned to the Panthers' lineup in March after recovering from the shoulder surgery.
  • On Tuesday, Kulikov broke a finger in the game against the Canadiens.

The players

Dmitry Kulikov

A veteran defenseman for the Florida Panthers who has struggled with injuries this season, including a shoulder injury and now a broken finger.

Paul Maurice

The head coach of the Florida Panthers, who announced that Kulikov will be out for the rest of the season due to the broken finger injury.

Evan Rodrigues

A Panthers player who has also been sidelined by a finger injury this season.

Aaron Ekblad

A Panthers player who has also been sidelined by a finger injury this season.

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What they’re saying

“He's going to be out.”

— Paul Maurice, Head Coach, Florida Panthers

“That was the longest I have been out during the regular season, and it was tough, mentally. You come in every day to do the work, but you're really not with the team. You're really not part of it all. It was a long process. But now that I am back, I am enjoying every second of it.”

— Dmitry Kulikov

What’s next

The Panthers have two games left on their final road trip of the season and will wrap things up with home games on April 10 against the New York Rangers and on April 15 against the Detroit Red Wings.

The takeaway

Kulikov's latest injury is a significant setback for the Panthers, who have been dealing with a rash of injuries all season. The loss of a veteran defenseman like Kulikov could impact the team's performance as they push for a playoff spot in the final weeks of the regular season.