Panthers coach explains why he’s sticking with Staal. And an encouraging Duclair update

The Florida Panthers were back at FLA Live Arena for a morning skate Saturday ahead of their game against the Vancouver Canucks and briefly tested out a different-looking lineup.

Marc Staal, who has played every game this season and struggled Thursday in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, was skating with the extras, with Casey Fitzgerald taking his place on the second defensive pairing. It wasn’t a sign of what was to come later in the day, though: Paul Maurice decided to stick with the same lineup he used at the end of the four-game road trip, even after Florida blew a third-period lead to the Golden Knights in Las Vegas.

“We’re very aware of the personnel and what they go through,” the coach said, defending his decision to stick with Staal. “Staal’s battled his [expletive] off this year.”

Staal, 36, has just four points in 43 games and a plus-minus of negative-3 in 18:10 per game, playing next to star defenseman Brandon Montour. Fitzgerald, 25, was just acquired Wednesday, claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Sabres after recording three points in 23 games with a plus-minus of negative-1 in 9:04 per game.

Although experienced, Staal has struggled at times this year due to his lack of speed and the Golden Knights burned him for a pair of goals in their come-from-behind win earlier this week.

“I just tell his partner to get five feet closer to him on those nights,” Maurice said. “They’ve got to work together.”

When asked whether Staal’s play this season as been a concern, Maurice bluntly answered, “No,” and pointed out his plus-minus isn’t even the worse among his team’s defensemen.

“We’re not replacing him with a player that’s got more compete, more experience and more bounce back,” Maurice said.

Duclair takes another return step

Anthony Duclair was back on the ice for the Panthers’ morning skate Saturday in Sunrise and took another major step in his return from offseason surgery on his left Achilles tendon.

Clad in a yellow non-contact jersey, Duclair took part in line rushes and skated at something close to full speed with his teammates as they prepared to face the Canucks later in the day. It was his first time back with the full group since his injury last year, and he was able to cut and keep up with his teammates.

Maurice said there has been “a big change in his kind of program here over the last week.”

“INstead of being careful, he can go out and push himself,” Maurice said. “This is a long, very difficult injury to rehab. ... We’re getting into that place for the first time where we’re happy where it’s at, where it’s starting to look good.”

With just one game back at home before Florida goes back on the road for three more games, Duclair took advantage of his one opportunity to practice with the team. The winger won’t travel with the Panthers, instead staying back in Florida to work with fellow right wing Patric Hornqvist, who’s also on long-term injured reserve with a concussion.

The next step will be for Duclair to take part in a practice, rather than just a morning skate. Maurice hopes it can happen before the All-Star break next month.

The Panthers only have three more home games -- Jan. 14, 27 and 28 -- before they host the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in February, which means opportunities will be limited.

“I’m hopeful that we can get him into a full practice prior to the break, where he’s banging and it’s on, and then that way he knows how to train in the break,” Maurice said.

Once Duclair is back as a full participant, Maurice doesn’t expect it will be long until he puts him in the lineup.

“If he’s 100 percent healthy, we won’t be waiting for him to be at the top of his game before he comes back in, if the body’s good. We will stress that ankle and we will push it, and we’ll be darn sure that if something happens it’s not because the ankle wasn’t 100 percent, but we won’t wait until his hands are perfect. I’ve got a spot for him.

“By the time we put him into that practice, we will feel he’s at 100 percent ... because we won’t put him in that situation with that injury until he’s ready to go.”