MONTREAL \u2013 Does this count as a roster move?<\/p>\n
Heading home after suiting up for the Panthers during the first two games of their five-game trip, Matthew Tkachuk is back in South Florida awaiting the birth of his first child.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery good news,\u201d head coach Paul Maurice said after Tuesday\u2019s morning skate in Montreal. \u201cA lot of babies this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
So many babies, in fact, that Maurice has referred to the locker room as a nursery on more than one occasion.<\/p>\n
A little over a week ago, Sam Bennett also became a dad.<\/p>\n
“It’s awesome to know that our kids are going to grow up together,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cWe’re all like brothers in here, so it’s cool that our kids are going to get that same feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
With so many Panthers locked into long-term contacts, the Jr. Panthers might be unbeatable in the future.<\/p>\n
They’ll also have quite an experienced head coach.<\/p>\n
“You want that job,\u201d Maurice said. \u201cBo Forsling will be crushing people.”<\/p>\n
With three games left on their trip, the Panthers will drop the puck with the Canadiens at Bell Centre at 7 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n