Top-line forwards closer to return

SUNRISE — For the first time this season the Florida Panthers looked whole during Monday’s afternoon practice at the BB&T Center.

They were still sporting the yellow jerseys that sidelined players wear and there is still no definitive timetable for their return, however, Panthers’ top-line forwards Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan

Rowe Huberdeau participated in their first full team practice since sustaining their respective injuries.

Panthers general manager and interim coach Tom Rowe added that, “whether it’s tomorrow or a few weeks from now, [the trainers] will let us know [about Barkov’s return].” He added just the presence of his two budding, young stars, as well as the three-day All-Star break, gave the team “added jump.”

“When you see Barkov and Huberdeau out there and [Alex Petrovic and Nick Bjugstad] are back in the lineup, it definitely gives you added jump and better execution in practice,” Rowe said. “Even though Huby and Barkov are not cleared to play, they still look pretty good.”

Defenseman Keith Yandle, who has yet to play with Huberdeau in a regular-season game, agreed.

“Anytime you get a guy the caliber of Barky and Huby, even when they’re out

there only skating with us once or twice [morning skate last Thursday], it ups everybody’s level a little bit,” Yandle said. “You get a little spark from them.”

Huberdeau, 23, who’s been out all season since sustaining a torn Achilles’ tendon in the final preseason game on Oct. 8, and Barkov, out since Dec. 29 with a back injury, spoke to the media about their rehabilitation for the first time.

“I feel better every day,” said Barkov, 21, who was leading the team with 27 points when he left the ice after getting hit in the back by a soft shot from Yandle during a 3-2 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 28.

“I’m skating with the team and feel happy for that. It’s a lot more fun than skating by my own. I hope I could play soon.”

Barkov was on a roll before he was injured, scoring seven goals and 13 points in his previous 12 games. He said back surgery was ruled out immediately. He added the back pain had been, “a pretty long process,” and the shot had nothing to do with it.

“You never want to get injured even if you’re playing bad,” said Barkov, who led the team with a career-high 28 goals last season. “I felt like I was playing better and better every game and then it happened. It’s part of hockey. You can’t do anything.”

Huberdeau’s injury was a freak accident as New Jersey Devils center Sergey Kalinin’s skate came down on the back of his left ankle while battling for the puck. Rowe had repeatedly said that Huberdeau may return in early March, but will no longer speculate.

“It’s the first time I get injured for a long time during the season,” said Huberdeau, who scored a career-high 20 goals and 59 points last season. “It’s been hard mentally and physically, but I think mentally has been the hardest.

“You can’t come to the rink and be like giving up. You want to work hard every day and be positive. It’s hard to be positive when you have an injury like that. ... Of course, I want to be back, but I want to be 100 percent.”

With 32 games remaining and the Panthers still within striking distance of a playoff berth, Huberdeau remains confident that even if he, Barkov and Jaromir Jagr aren’t able to play one game together this season, the team can still reach the postseason. “I want to play for [my teammates],” said Huberdeau, who still walks with a slight limp. “I feel I’m pretty close . ...

“I always think we can make the playoffs. I know we’re points back, but I think the breaks will be good for everyone to come back for the last stretch. Hopefully, me and Barky will be back, but we don’t know if it will be in time, but I think we’re confident in the group we have now.”

New season

Rowe said he told the players that the new season begins Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators.

“There’s no more wasting games; you can’t even have a bad shift,” Rowe said. “We got to be ready to play and help us win hockey games and get into the playoffs.

“I told the guys you can’t afford to have a bad game because now we got bodies starting to come back, so there’s going to be more competition so if you have a bad night you might find yourself out of the lineup.”

JOEL AUERBACH/AP Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov has been out since he injured his back in late December. He was on a hot streak with 13 points in his last 12 games when he got hurt.