FLORIDA PANTHERS captain Aleksander Barkov faces being ruled out for the entire 2025/26 season.
Barkov has had surgery fix the ACL and MCL in his right knee.
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Aleksander Barkov faces being ruled out for the entire 2025/26 season
It will see him miss the regular season – and potentially the playoffs as Florida look to win a third consecutive Stanley Cup.
Barkov got injured on Thursday in his first official practice of training camp – just days before pre-season begins.
The Panthers say the expected timetable for recovery from the type of surgery he underwent is seven to nine months.
That would mean he not playing before the start of the playoffs.
The injury also ends any chance of him representing Finland – as he planned – at the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February.
“He’s such an important person in that locker room,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice.
“I think what we’re going to get to experience now is you’ll get to know some of the other leaders that we have in our room.”
Barkov was hurt only 20 minutes into practice during a drill on a play where he took minimal contact.
“I know the idea is next man up,” Maurice said. “There’s not a next man for Barky’s skates.”
Barkov is coming off a stellar season, leading the Panthers in assists last season with 51 and was second in points with 71.
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He added six goals and 16 assists in the playoffs as Florida won their second Stanley Cup in a row.
This marks the first time Barkov has dealt with a potential season-ending injury.
“It’s going to be tough,” Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe said. He’s our leader. There’s no replacing Barky. Everyone has to step up.
“There’s no replacing him, but it’s another challenge for our group. And we’re usually pretty good at overcoming challenges.”