Tarasenko injured Ekblad in second game with the Panthers.
Vladimir Tarasenko takes out his own teammate in just his second game with his new team.
Well this is a bit of a disaster.
The Florida Panthers went out and got veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko ahead of the National Hockey League's trade deadline in an effort to bolster their offense as they head into the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. Although Tarasenko may very well provide the offense the Panthers desire from him, the start to his tenure in Florida couldn't have gone more wrong.
On Saturday afternoon, Tarasenko was involved in a collision with teammate Aaron Ekblad at center ice as both players were attempting to close in on Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington. Kylington flipped the puck down the ice, taking himself out of the play, and this resulted in both Ekblad and Tarasenko meeting in the middle of the ice and colliding.
The impact barely seemed to phase Tarasenko who skated right off, but Ekblad appeared to have been shaken up on the play. Not only did the veteran defenseman fall awkwardly down to the ice, but he struggled to get back to his feet and would head down the tunnel and has yet to return to the game.
Update: Ekblad has not returned in the second period.
