The Florida Panthers will be without captain Aleksander Barkov for at least the next 10 games and 24 days after placing the veteran center on long-term injured reserve Saturday.
Barkov was hurt Thursday night in San Jose, leaving the Panthers’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Sharks during the second period. The incident came at 8:07 while Florida was on the power play. Barkov was working for the puck along the right-side corner boards when he went down awkwardly. Once back on his skates, he called for the Zamboni gate to be opened, dropped his gloves and headed directly down the tunnel.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after the game that the new problem was “not related” to the right-knee injury that wiped out Barkov’s entire 2025-26 NHL season.
The 31-year-old had only just returned to Florida’s lineup. He logged 20:32 in Tuesday’s season-opening 1-0 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes, then played against the Sharks in what became his second appearance of the young campaign.
A difficult return for Florida’s captain
Barkov missed last season after suffering damage to his right MCL and ACL on the opening day of training camp. He underwent surgery the following day, then worked his way back into game action with Finland at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.
Serving as Finland’s captain in May, Barkov posted three goals and eight assists in 10 games as the Finns captured gold. Entering Panthers camp, he said the meaningful games overseas had given him confidence in the knee.
“I had a better feeling coming into camp because I had played meaningful hockey and felt good doing it,” Barkov said in September. “The more we played, the better I felt, and I was really happy with that.”
Florida now has to navigate another absence from the player who has been at the center of its recent championship run. The Panthers selected Barkov second overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, and he has produced 286 goals and 496 assists for 782 points in 806 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he has 25 goals and 56 assists in 94 outings, including the back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2024 and 2025.
Barkov has won the Selke Trophy three times, taking home the award as the league’s top defensive forward in 2020-21, 2023-24 and 2024-25. He also received the Lady Byng Trophy in 2018-19.
The Panthers continue their road trip Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET.
