SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers will open its 2020-21 season training camp on Sunday, and the team could be without two of its top young prospects. Now there are questions as to whether either player will be coming to South Florida any time soon. Through 19 games Saarela has accumulated an impressive 12 goals and 18 points, but the 23-year-old ran into a roadblock earlier this week. Aleksi Saarela of the Florida Panthers forechecks during a 5-4 Los Angeles Kings win at Staples Center on February 20, 2020. The Panthers season officially begins on Jan. 14 when they host the Dallas Stars at the BB&T Center.

SUNRISE, Fla. – A starting date for the upcoming National Hockey League season is still up in the air. Something else that remains up in the air is the contract status of a few Florida Panthers restricted free agents. Back in early October, the Panthers extended qualifying offers to a handful of RFAs, including Henrik Borgstrom, MacKenzie Weegar, Samuel Montembeault and Aleksi Saarela. Saarela and Montembeault shared time between the Panthers and their American Hockey League affiliate last season, the Springfield Thunderbirds, while Borgstrom was sent down early in the year and never recalled. Saarela was acquired by Florida early last season and impressed enough to earn a pair of call-ups and a spot on the Panthers’ postseason bubble roster.

TORONTO, ONT Jordan Eberle scored twice, including the go-ahead goal, and the New York Islanders rallied to a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers and take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NHL preliminary round playoff series on Tuesday. The Islanders particularly took advantage of the Panthers' undisciplined play by scoring twice on seven power-play chances. Weve got to play with some composure in those pivotal moments, said Panthers first-year coach and three-time Stanley Cup champion Joel Quenneville. Florida is making its first playoff appearance since 2016, when the Panthers were eliminated by the Islanders in six games. Set up in the left circle, Eberle patiently waited for defenseman Brady Keeper to go down and attempt to block the shot.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. One of the more unsung heroes for the Florida Panthers this season has been defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Playing his sixth year in the NHL after being selected first overall by Florida in 2014, Ekblad saw his all-around game blossom under new head coach Joel Quenneville. If you're a d-man with above-average offensive skill, odds are you'll be working the point while on the man advantage. "Not fit to go today," was the answer from Quenneville when asked about Ekblad's second consecutive absence. Aleksi Saarela of the Florida Panthers forechecks during a 5-4 Los Angeles Kings win at Staples Center on February 20, 2020.