Panthers clear Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau to return from injuries

The Florida Panthers hit the trade deadline acquisition jackpot a month before the trade deadline and without making an actual trade.

Florida president of hockey operations Dale Tallon announced on Friday morning that Panthers stars Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau are both cleared to return from injuries. Both will suit up to play in the Panthers game against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

Barkov and Huberdeau were previously cleared for practice contact this week, the final step to Friday’s announcement.

Barkov has missed the last 15 games after suffering an undisclosed injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs in late December. At the time, he was listed as out indefinitely, leaving the prospect of his return this season up in the air. Barkov has 27 points in 36 games this season, and just passed his one-year anniversary of signing a six-year, $35.4 million contract extension.

Friday’s game will be Huberdeau’s season debut with the Panthers. The winger suffered an ankle injury in Florida’s last preseason game in October, causing him to miss the first four months of the season. Huberdeau’s injury was a real setback for the Panthers, who were expecting big things out of the 23-year-old after he set career-highs in goals (20) and points (59) in 2015-16.

The Panthers’ best players are now completely healthy (simultaneously) for the first time in recent memory, just in time for a second-half push to the playoffs.