The injury bug has suddenly been busy in Sunrise, biting two forwards from the Florida Panthers first line. Aleksander Barkov was the first to fall, with a fractured hand suffered blocking a shot against the Blackhawks last week. Jaromir Jagr was next, playing less than three minutes against Colorado on Tuesday due to a “lower body injury” that some information suggests is either a strained groin or hamstring. Nick Bjugstad and Jussi Jokinen have been pressed into first line service, and the line shake-ups behind them have left the team thin at forward with back-to-back games against resurgent Boston and a tough Washington squad.
With that in mind, the Panthers have reportedly called upon 23-year old right wing Logan Shaw, who will travel from Portland, ME to South Florida.
#NHLPanthers call up @CBSEHockey Alum Logan Shaw. 3rd year Pro & #GlaceBay native could in lineup Friday vs Bruins.
— John Moore (@rinkrant) October 29, 2015
Shaw has jumped out to a solid start in Portland, with 2 goals in 5 games so far this season. He has 120 career regular season AHL games under his belt, in which he has put up 16 goals and 19 assists (35 points). It should be noted that 13 of his goals came in 2014-15 in San Antonio, so his production has been on the rise. Nevertheless, he has not been a huge point producer in the AHL, leading to some question marks surrounding why he was the player summoned, One possible answer is that the Cats are preparing to play two big, physical teams in Boston and Washington. Shaw is 6’3″, 204 lbs., so he does have the size a 4th line NHL role will necessitate. The other reality is that right wing is a position the franchise is not deep at in the professional or amateur ranks.
#FlaPanthers callup Logan Shaw was a third round pick in 2011; had 13 goals for AHL @sarampage last year. Could make NHL debut this weekend
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) October 29, 2015
Shaw, a third-round pick in 2011, finished 22nd on the LBC summer series “Panthers Top 25 Under 25.” For those who want a little more information on the Cats first injury call up of the season, that full write up can be found here. We at LBC wish Shaw well and hope that he finds success in his stay with the big club. It would also, of course, not hurt to continue his recent scoring ways while in Sunrise!