Panthers honor Jose Fernandez on Thursday

When the Florida Panthers open their season against the New Jersey Devils at BB&T Center on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, FS-F), they will honor Jose Fernandez, the former Miami Marlins pitcher who died on Sept. 25.
The Panthers revealed a personalized Fernandez jersey and will wear helmet decals with his No. 16 inside a Panthers-colored image of home plate during their home opener. The team skated in No. 16 Fernandez jerseys in warmups.

Fernandez, the 2013 National League Rookie of the Year, was 24 when he died in a boating accident in South Florida. The NBA's Miami Heat wore shirts with Fernandez's initials "JDF" and No. 16 on the back during their preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 8.