Dave Bolland will make his long-awaited return to the Florida Panthers lineup when the team visits the St. Louis Blues on Monday night.

The 28-year-old center hasn’t played since suffering a groin injury in a 1-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 17.

"He’s ready to get back," Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant told reporters after Monday’s morning skate in St. Louis. "He’s an important player for us and he’s coming in the lineup."

Signed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract this past summer, Bolland has recorded no points and four penalty minutes in four games for the Panthers this season.

In the 21 games since Bolland’s injury, the Panthers have posted a 10-5-6 record with rookie centerman Vincent Trocheck flourishing in his stead.

A second-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2004, Bolland has recorded 78 goals and 180 points in 359 regular-season NHL games split between Chicago, Toronto and Florida.

In addition to Bolland’s activation, the team has also placed second-year center Aleksander Barkov on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 1

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