Florida’s Aleksander Barkov has surgery, could miss entire season with knee injury (Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) The Florida Panthers were dealt a heavy blow just weeks before the NHL season begins. Captain Aleksander Barkov injured his right knee during Thursday’s practice and needed help leaving the ice. By Friday, the team confirmed surgery was required, and Barkov is now expected to miss seven to nine months of action.
Aleksander Barkov injury update from the Florida Panthers
Head coach Paul Maurice initially tried to stay positive, saying more tests were needed before reaching any conclusion. Unfortunately, the results confirmed the worst fears.The Florida Panthers released an official statement on Friday confirming that Aleksander Barkov suffered ACL and MCL injuries. The recovery timeline puts his return in doubt for the entire 2025-26 season. He will also miss the upcoming Winter Olympics, where he was set to represent Finland.
How the Florida Panthers will cope without Barkov
The loss of Barkov leaves the Panthers short-handed as they prepare to defend their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. The 30-year-old center was coming off another strong season, posting 71 points despite missing 15 games, and added 22 points in 23 playoff games.His absence comes on top of other injuries. Forward Matthew Tkachuk is still recovering from offseason surgery and is not expected back until December. Tomas Nosek is also sidelined for months. That means Florida will start the season without three forwards who were key to last year’s championship run.
Impact on the NHL Selke Trophy race this season
Aleksander Barkov has built a reputation as one of the NHL’s best two-way forwards. He has won the Selke Trophy three times, including the last two seasons. With his injury, the field for this year’s award is suddenly wide open.Still, the injury leaves a hole in the league beyond awards. Barkov has been the captain since 2018 and is widely respected across the NHL. For the Panthers, his leadership and consistency will be nearly impossible to replace during what was expected to be another contending season.Also Read: NHL star Connor McDavid’s wife, Lauren Kyle, opens her cottage retreat