The Florida Panthers’ 2025–26 campaign has felt less like a title defense and more like a grueling test of medical endurance. On Tuesday night, head coach Paul Maurice confirmed the latest blow to his depleted roster: veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will miss the remainder of the regular season. The news comes after Kulikov suffered yet another injury during a brief return to the lineup, effectively ending a season defined by physical sacrifice and relentless misfortune.
A Season Defined by Resilience and Relapse
For Kulikov, this year has been a revolving door of recovery. His troubles began just two games into the schedule when a severe shoulder injury against the Philadelphia Flyers necessitated surgery and sidelined him for five months. It was a grueling stretch for the veteran, who admitted the mental toll of the rehabilitation process was as taxing as the physical pain. “That was the longest I have been out during the regular season,” Kulikov told reporters in March. “It was tough, mentally. You’re doing the work, but you’re not really with the team.”
Playing Through the Pain
The 35-year-old blueliner’s dedication to the Panthers’ “Next Man Up” culture was evident in his willingness to battle through smaller ailments that would have sidelined lesser players. Upon his return from shoulder surgery, Kulikov was already contending with a broken nose. Maurice revealed that he had to practically force the veteran to sit out at points, noting that even when Kulikov could barely breathe due to the nasal fracture, his only desire was to be on the ice helping his teammates.
Unfortunately, his grit was met with more bad luck. Shortly after returning to action against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, Kulikov suffered a broken finger during Tuesday’s contest. He joins a growing list of Panthers, including Aaron Ekblad and Evan Rodrigues, who have been sidelined by hand injuries in the final weeks of the season.
Looking Toward an Uncertain Finale
With only a handful of games remaining in the 2025–26 schedule, the Panthers are limping toward the finish line. The team wraps up their final road trip before returning to South Florida for home games against the New York Rangers on Monday and the season finale against the Detroit Red Wings on April 15.
While the Panthers have already been eliminated from playoff contention, the loss of Kulikov remains a significant blow to a locker room that prizes his veteran leadership and experience. As the team pivots toward a long-awaited offseason of healing, Kulikov’s season will be remembered as a testament to the brutal physical price paid by the two-time reigning champions.