Shawn Matthias is sick. Questionable for tonight's game for #FlaPanthers
Matthias has been one of the lone bright spots on the Panthers this season. He has recorded four goals, one assist and a plus-3 in his last seven games.
Look for Matthias to draw back in on the third line, probably bumping Tim Kennedy back out of the lineup. Through five games, he has no points and a minus-2 rating.
Matthias didn’t skate because of illness but may feel better by gametime.
Matthias will be a game-time decision tonight. Through five games, he holds a minus-2 rating playing primarily on the fourth line. He doesn't hold any fantasy hockey value at this point.
That means bubble players such as Shawn Matthias, Evgeny Dadonov are safe for now.
Matthias figures to begin the season on the fourth line. Last season he scored six goals and 16 points over 51 games for the Panthers, forcing the young forward to compete for playing time. Following a successful Junior career with the Belleville Bulls, the pivot never scored more than 10 goals and 20 points over three professional seasons.
The fourth-year forward was given some sense of security when the Panthers signed him to a two-year deal with a guaranteed $900,000 in year two.
Matthias's camp spent most of the offseason fighting for a one-way deal -- a caveat the Panthers eventually caved into, in year two. This season Matthias is in no way guaranteed a roster spot. Draft accordingly in deeper leagues.