Florida Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov Talks Missing 2025-26 Season, Playing for Finland at Worlds

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Sasha Barkov meets the media after his team wrapped up its season at the IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on April 16, 2026.

Barkov missed the entire season after injuring his right knee on his first day of training camp.

He confirmed Thursday that he would play for Finland at the upcoming World Championships.

The Panthers won three straight to end the season but will end the season out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Florida won the past two Stanley Cup championships.

The two-time Stanley Cup champions will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / @FlaPanthers / Panthers Vision

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Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / Panther Vision

11 comments

  4. Imagine that when Barky went down last autumn, that he actually only sprained his knee. Imagine that the Oilers paid-off the doctor to falsely analyze the MRI and say it was MCL/ACL tears. Then imagine the reason the surgery and recovery went so well is because the doctor didn't do anything during the surgery – just poked around and pretended. Barky is like "Damn, helluvuh surgeon. I barely feel pain and I'm back on my feet in a few weeks!". Imagine that's why Barky missed the whole season and it's the reason the Panthers unraveled this year. Imagine that.

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