Florida Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov to Have Surgery on Right Knee

The Florida Panthers may have to pursue a third consecutive Stanley Cup title without their captain, Aleksander Barkov. He is expected to be sidelined for seven to nine months following knee surgery on his ACL and MCL, as announced by the team on Friday.

The surgery was successfully performed by Dr. John Uribe at Baptist Health Doctors Hospital, with Barkov set to undergo ongoing evaluations. The recovery timeline for his injuries is estimated at 7 to 9 months.

While the Panthers have not ruled out the chance of Barkov returning during the Stanley Cup playoffs, his recovery period would likely prevent him from participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics for Finland.

Following the news of Barkov's surgery, the Panthers, who are favored to win the Cup again, saw their odds decrease. Coach Paul Maurice mentioned that there was a brief moment of sadness after the announcement.

Barkov sustained the injury during a practice session at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Video footage showed him struggling to rise after his right leg buckled while making a move. Trainers assisted him off the ice, with Barkov putting minimal pressure on his injured leg.

As the Panthers' top-line center, Barkov has a history of missing games due to injuries. Despite this, he holds several franchise records and has been a key figure in the team's recent success, including back-to-back Stanley Cup victories.

The Panthers are facing challenges with another key player, Matthew Tkachuk, who is recovering from injuries sustained earlier in the year. Tkachuk is expected to be out until at least December, as confirmed by Panthers general manager Bill Zito.