Injured Florida Panthers forward Sean Bergenheim has won his medical grievance against the club and will be paid his full salary -- retroactive to the lockout -- according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Back in January, the Panthers suspended Bergenheim after he was unable to attain medical clearance for a lower-body injury thought to be suffered while playing for HIFK of Finland’s SM-liiga during the lockout.
The 28-year-old winger, in the second of a four-year, $11 million deal with Florida, proceeded to file a two-part medical grievance against the organization on the basis his injury originally occurred prior to the lockout, not while playing in Finland.
Bergenheim was set to earn $2.75 million this season but, according to the rules of the lockout, the club was within its rights to suspend any player (without pay) that injured himself playing overseas.
McKenzie also notes that Bergenheim will miss the remainder of this season as he’s expected to have surgery on his hip/lower abdomen.
A former first-round selection of the New York Islanders, Bergenheim scored a career-high 17 goals for the Panthers last season and led the team in playoff scoring with six points in seven games.