The Florida Panthers are considered one of the favorites to make a run at the Stanley Cup this season. They did not even make the postseason last year after winning the NHL championship the two previous years. Injuries and fatigue were largely given as the reasons for Florida's disappointing season.
One of the most important injuries was suffered by dominant center Aleksander Barkov. The 3-time Selke Award winner (best defensive forward) was unable to play at all in the 2025-26 season as a result of torn ligaments in his right knee.
He returned to the lineup for the first two games of the new season, but Barkov is back on long-term injured reserve after suffering an injury in the Panthers' Thursday night game against the San Jose Sharks.
Barkov was placed on the list after he was struggling to gain possession of the puck and got shoved by San Jose defenseman Darnell Nurse and he fell awkwardly to the ice as his left knee buckled.
Barkov immediately left the ice and the Panthers said that Barkov had an MRI Friday and that he will meet with team doctors on Monday. Long-term IR means that Barkov will be out at least 10 games before he is able to return to the team.
“Barky’s going to see our doctors Monday,” Florida head coach Paul Maurice said, per The Athletic. “We put him on LTIR. We know it’s going to be 10 anyway. We’ll see what they say Monday. I’m not the doctor here. So, we’ll see. Whatever they say.”