Panthers call up 2010 first-round pick Howden

The Florida Panthers, who could have their entire top line -- Tomas Fleischmann, Kris Versteeg and Stephen Weiss -- out for Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, on Friday called up Quinton Howden from the American Hockey League team, the San Antonio Rampage.

Howden, the 25th pick of the 2010 NHL Draft, is playing his first professional season after spending the last four seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League. The 21-year-old center has 19 points in 41 AHL games this season.

Versteeg has yet to play this season due to a groin injury, while Weiss and Fleischmann were hurt Thursday. Weiss injured his groin prior to Thursday's game against the Ottawa Senators, while Fleischmann sustained a cut to the top of his foot during the game. None of the three practiced Friday, and coach Kevin Dineen said he was unsure if any of them would be available for Saturday's game.

"All those players right now are question marks for [Saturday]," he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "We're cautiously optimistic that they're going to be short-term injuries."