DETROIT – The hits keep on coming for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

With Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Tomas Nosek already sidelined by long-term injuries, Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice announced on Wednesday that Dmitry Kulikov will miss five months after undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury.

"Had surgery this morning to repair a labral tear,” Maurice said after morning skate at Little Caesars Arena.

Kulikov suffered the injury in the second period of Florida’s 2-1 win over the Flyers on Oct. 9 while attempting to finish a hit on Philadelphia’s Bobby Brink near the boards.

“We’re not allowing any short-term injuries this year,” Maurice quipped.

A key pillar on the blue line during Florida’s back-to-back Stanley Cups, Kulikov, an integral piece of th

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