Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is undergoing surgery on his right knee, as announced by coach Paul Maurice. The timeline for his return is currently uncertain, but reports suggest that he might miss the entire 2025-26 season. Barkov sustained the injury during a practice session at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when his right leg appeared to buckle as he attempted to maneuver past a teammate. A video from WPLG-10 captured the incident, showing Barkov struggling to rise before kneeling on the ice. Team trainers assisted the 30-year-old off the rink as he applied minimal pressure on his injured leg.
Barkov has been a vital figure for the Panthers, leading them as captain since 2018 and securing the Selke Trophy three times as the NHL’s top defensive forward. Despite frequent injuries that have caused him to miss at least 10 games in multiple seasons, Barkov remains the franchise leader in goals, assists, points, and games played. Under his leadership, the Panthers clinched the Stanley Cup in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons and reached the finals in the 2022-23 season. The team aims to emulate the success of the New York Islanders from the early 1980s by winning a third consecutive championship and appearing in a fourth straight finals.
The Panthers are also contending with the absence of star winger Matthew Tkachuk, who is recuperating from injuries incurred during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February. Although he returned for the Stanley Cup playoffs, tying for the team lead in points, Tkachuk remains sidelined until at least December as per the Panthers’ GM Bill Zito.
The leadership void left by both Barkov and Tkachuk presents challenges for the Panthers. Nonetheless, the team will surely look to other seasoned players to step up as they pursue another successful Stanley Cup campaign. The Panthers have a rich legacy to uphold and will hope their resilience and depth can lead them through these adversities. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.