Panthers’ Sam Bennett, Dmitry Kulikov set to return following injury absences

Apr 14, 2025, 11:16 EDT

Credit: Dec 3, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) reacts after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers are getting healthy ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as center Sam Bennett and veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov are set to return to the lineup Monday versus the New York Rangers, reports George Richards of Florida Hockey Now.

Bennett returns following a four-game absence related to an upper-body injury. On the season, the 28-year-old native Holland Landing, Ont., has made 74 appearances with the Panthers in which he has collected 25 goals and 25 assists for a career-high 50 points.

Originally chosen fourth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2014 NHL Draft, Bennett joined the Panthers late in the 2020-21 campaign where in the ensuing four seasons he has scored 40 points or better each year. Of note, en route to the Panthers’ first-ever Stanley Cup championship last spring, Bennett posted seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 19 postseason appearances.

Per PuckPedia, Bennett is in the final year of a four-year contract that carries a $4.425-million annual average value and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason.

For Kulikov, the 34-year-old Russian-born rearguard returns to the lineup after being out for the past 12 games due to an upper-body ailment.

Sidelined since mid-March, Kulikov has been limited to 68 appearances with the Panthers this season in which he has registered four goals and nine assists for 13 points coupled with 38 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating. On the season, Kulikov ranks fifth among Florida defensemen in averaging 19:17 in ice time per game.

A veteran of 1,016 career contests counting stops with the Panthers, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, and Pittsburgh Penguins, Kulikov has collected 50 goals and 197 assists for 247 career points. Kulikov was originally chosen 14th overall by the Panthers in the 2009 NHL Draft.