Panthers coach and GM Tom Rowe says he regrets rushing Aaron Ekblad back to the lineup after the defenseman suffered a concussion earlier this month.

Ekblad is now dealing with a sore neck and will not join the Panthers for their four-game road trip that begins Monday in Buffalo.

Although the neck injury is not believed to be related to the concussion, Rowe said he made a mistake in putting Ekblad back in the lineup so quickly.