The Florida Panthers captain, Aleksander Barkov, underwent surgery on Friday to repair the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. These injuries will likely keep him out of action during the regular season and potentially the playoffs, as Florida seeks to win their third consecutive Stanley Cup. Barkov suffered the injury on Thursday in his first official training camp practice. The Panthers reported that the usual recovery time for this type of surgery is seven to nine months. This means that, at a minimum, he will not play before the start of the playoffs. The injury also rules out the possibility of representing his native Finland at the Milan-Cortina Olympics next February, something he was hoping and planning for.
Barkov was injured during a practice, in a play where the contact was minimal.He’s a very important person in the locker room.
Paul Maurice, Panthers coach
I know the idea is that the next player takes his place. But there’s no one who can fill Barky’s skates.
Paul Maurice, Panthers coachLast season, Barkov led the Panthers in assists with 51 and was second in points with 71. In the playoffs, he added six goals and 16 assists, as Florida won its second consecutive Stanley Cup. In his 12 seasons in the NHL, Barkov has participated in more than 86% of Florida’s games, including the playoffs. This is the first time he has faced an injury that could end his season. The Panthers, who have reached the last three Stanley Cup Finals and have played more games in the last three seasons than any other team in NHL history, will have to face another significant absence as the season approaches. In addition to Barkov, the Panthers will also be without forward Matthew Tkachuk, who is recovering from surgery to repair a tear in his adductor muscle. There is no defined timeframe for Tkachuk’s return; given the usual recovery for this type of procedure, he is not likely to return before December. Since Tkachuk arrived at the Panthers in 2022, Florida has only played five games without him or Barkov in the lineup, all last October, and the Panthers won three of those games. In addition, Tomas Nosek, who played an important role in winning the Cup title last season, is expected to miss considerable time due to a knee injury.Barkov leads Florida in several categories, including games played (804), goals (286), assists (496), points (782), power-play goals (84), and game-winning goals (52).It’s going to be difficult. He’s our leader, there’s no one who can replace Barky. Everyone has to step up. There’s no way to replace him, but it’s another challenge for our group. And usually, we’re pretty good at overcoming challenges.
Carter Verhaeghe, Panthers forward
