FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov had to be helped off the ice on Thursday after appearing to suffer a right leg injury during the first full preseason practice for the reigning Stanley Cup champions. There is still no information on the severity of the injury. Panthers coach Paul Maurice indicated that Barkov was undergoing further evaluation.
The Panthers have been in camp for a week, with a round of cuts already made, reducing the roster from 72 to 55 players. Thursday was the first day that the majority of veterans were expected to participate. It’s not clear exactly what happened to Barkov. He couldn’t skate off on his own when he left the ice and went to the team’s locker room.I’ll have a better answer tomorrow.
Paul Maurice, Panthers coach
Barkov led the Panthers in assists last season with 51 and was second in points with 71, before adding six goals and 16 assists in the playoffs, where Florida won its second consecutive Stanley Cup. He is the franchise leader for Florida in numerous categories, including games played (804), goals (286), assists (496), points (782), power-play goals (84), and game-winning goals (52). The Panthers are already expecting to be without forward Matthew Tkachuk for the first few weeks of the season, as he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. Now, they are waiting to see if Barkov will also be out for a significant amount of time.You certainly don’t want to see a player like that fall.
Jesper Boqvist, Panthers forward
It’s out of our control, so there’s no worry. If we have to learn to win hockey games without good players, if that’s the adversity or the test we face this year, that’s what we’re going to do. I’m not a doctor. Whatever the report is, it won’t affect how we handle the next day. If he’s not in the lineup on opening night, or if he misses an exhibition game, or is out long-term, it’s simply not going to affect that day. We have to win the hockey game and we have to prepare for it.
Paul Maurice, Panthers coach
