Florida Panthers forward Sean Bergenheim has won his medical grievance against the club and will be paid his full salary retroactive to the lockout.
The Panthers suspended Bergenheim in January after he was unable to obtain medical clearance for a lower-body injury thought to be suffered while playing in Europe during the lockout.
Bergenheim filed a medical grievance against the team on the basis his injury originally occurred prior to the lockout, not while playing for HIFK of Finland's SM-liiga.
The 28-year-old, in the second year of a four-year deal worth $11 million, was set to earn $2.75 million this season.
Bergenheim will require surgery on his hip/lower abdomen and will miss the remainder of the season.
Drafted by the New York Islanders in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Bergenheim scored a career-high 17 goals for the Panthers last season.
