The Florida Panthers entered the 2025-26 season confronting a daunting challenge before even stepping onto the ice. Captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a severe knee injury during practice on September 25, requiring surgery on his ACL and MCL. The recovery timeline, estimated at seven to nine months, effectively ends his season. Or does it? Despite Barkov’s long absence, the team has taken quite a surprising stance.

The Panthers could have immediately put Barkov on the season-ending LTIR. This would have been beneficial for the team as it opened the door for major roster adjustments with more cap space. Instead, the team has chosen to stick to their captain in his hard times. Coach Paul Maurice underlined Barkov’s irreplaceable value, stating, “There’s no hiding it. That’s the big man.

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