Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Florida Panthers placed defenseman Erik Gudbranson on injured reserve Friday, four days after he underwent surgery to repair a fractured orbital bone.
Gudbranson, the third overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft, sustained the injury in a game at Winnipeg on Dec. 20 and sat out Monday's 6-1 loss to Tampa Bay as a result.
The 21-year-old has recorded two goals and five assists in 37 games this season and tops the Panthers in both hits (84) and penalty minutes (74).
Florida recalled defenseman Alex Petrovic from San Antonio of the American Hockey League in a related move, with forward Drew Shore also promoted from the Rampage as well on Friday.
Shore participated in 43 of the Panthers' 48 games as a rookie during the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign, but has spent the majority of this season in the minors. The 22-year-old registered three goals and 10 assists for Florida last season.
Petrovic has appeared in seven NHL contests over the past two seasons and totaled 27 penalty minutes. In 30 games with San Antonio this year, the 2010 second-round pick amassed two goals and nine assists with 46 penalty minutes.
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