Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is undergoing right knee surgery after he had to be helped off the ice after suffering an injury during Thursday’s training camp practice, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters on Friday.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, it’s possible Barkov will miss the entire 2025-26 season:
The injury occurred during a non-contact drill in the first practice of training camp to feature the Panthers’ full projected NHL roster working on the ice together, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald.
The Panthers are already without forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Tomas Nosek, who are both expected to miss at least the first two months of the 2025-26 season after undergoing offseason surgery.
Tkachuk underwent surgery after playing through a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia injury during the Panthers’ run to a second straight championship this spring.
Nosek underwent a procedure on a knee injury he suffered this offseason.
With a top-six winger and fourth-line center already out for the beginning of the season, the Panthers will now wait to hear just how much time Barkov will miss.
“We have to learn how to win hockey games without good players,” Maurice said after Thursday’s practice (h/t CBS4’s Mike Cugno). “If that’s the adversity, or the test, that we face this year, then that’s what we’re going to do.”
Maurice continued: “Whatever the report is won’t affect how we handle that next day. If he’s not in the lineup on opening night, or if he misses an exhibition game, or if’s he out long-term, it’s just not going to affect that next day. We’ve got to win the hockey game, we’ve got to prep for it.”
Losing Barkov for any length of time would impact the Panthers on both offense and defense.
Barkov led the Panthers with 51 assists in 67 games last season, then contributed 16 more helpers in 23 playoff games to help his team lift a second straight Cup.
He also won a second straight Selke Trophy as a top defensive forward after effectively hutting down top Edmonton Oilers stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in a second consecutive Final.
In Barkov’s place, Sam Bennett figures to be called on to step up as the Panthers’ top-line center.
The rash of injuries in Sunrise comes after three straight Cup Final appearances that have seen the Panthers play more hockey than any other team in the league.
Florida is scheduled to open the season on Oct. 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
