Panthers' Aleksander Barkov Undergoes Knee Surgery, Season in Doubt
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is facing a lengthy recovery period after undergoing successful knee surgery to repair his ACL and MCL injuries.
Aleksander Barkov's season-ending injury rocks the Panthers. What's next for Florida?
Aleksander Barkov, the Florida Panthers' captain, has been ruled out for 7-9 months after undergoing successful surgery to repair his ACL and MCL injuries. The 30-year-old center suffered the injury during a non-contact drill in the team's first full practice of training camp on Thursday. Barkov was helped off the ice and underwent surgery on Friday, with the Panthers announcing that he'll likely miss the entire 2025-26 NHL regular season and potentially the playoffs.
Barkov's Achievements:
Franchise Records: Barkov holds multiple franchise records, including games played (804), goals (286), assists (496), points (782), power-play goals (84), and game-winning goals (52).
Awards and Accolades: Barkov won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward for the third time in his career, after the 2023-24 season.
“You get one day to be sad. I had my day yesterday,” said head coach Paul Maurice
“There's no hiding it, that's a hole. That's the big man,” said Maurice. “He is such an important piece in that locker room. What we'll get to know now is some of the other leaders in the room. We'll get to see other players and, at the end of the day, I know there's the idea of 'next man up,' and I get all that. But there’s no next man for Barky's skates. We just have to share it, spread it across the room, and among the coaches. We have to share that.”
An update on the Captain. pic.twitter.com/U2hZZdHPqt
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) September 26, 2025
Aleksander Barkov, a 13-year veteran and Panthers captain, has led his team to their second consecutive Stanley Cup victory, building on his impressive performance with 20 or more goals in each of the past ten seasons.
Career Highlights:
Debut: Barkov made his NHL debut in the 2013-2014 season with the Florida Panthers, where he's spent his entire career.
Consistency: He's recorded 20+ goals in each of the last ten seasons, showcasing his consistency and skill as a player.
Leadership: As captain, Barkov has been instrumental in the Panthers' success, including their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 2024 and 2025.
Barkov's dedication and talent have made him a key figure in the Panthers' franchise history, and his achievements continue to inspire fans and teammates alike.
Barkov, the former No. 2 overall draft pick, started his career in Florida after making his debut during the 2013-2014 season and has never played for another team since.
The Florida Panthers' captain, is a highly decorated player with numerous accolades. He's a three-time winner of the Selke Award, recognizing him as the NHL's top defensive forward, in 2021, 2024, and 2025. Barkov has also demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship, earning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in the 2018-2019 season. Furthermore, his leadership and humanitarian work have been acknowledged with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2024 and 2025.
Florida will also be without their star forward Matthew Tkachuk until December due to a lower-body injury along with fourth-line center Tomas Nosek, who will also be out for an extensive period of time.
The Panthers will play 82 games in the 2025-26 season, including a notable matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on November 22nd.
Injury Updates
The Panthers are dealing with several key injuries that will impact their lineup:
Aleksander Barkov: Sidelined for 7-9 months due to ACL and MCL injuries, ruling him out for the entire 2025-26 regular season.
Matthew Tkachuk: Expected to miss games until December due to a lower-body injury.
Tomas Nosek: Out for an extensive period with an unspecified injury.
Upcoming Schedule
The Panthers' regular season kicks off on October 7th against the Chicago Blackhawks at 5:00 PM ET at Amerant Bank Arena. Here's a glimpse of their schedule:
- October 9: vs. Philadelphia Flyers at 7:00 PM ET
- October 11: vs. Ottawa Senators at 7:00 PM ET
- October 14: Away game
- October 21: vs. Boston Bruins at 7:30 PM ET
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