The Florida Panthers were preparing for their next preseason game on Thursday. Unfortunately, the team was dealt a potentially brutal blow during practice. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov appeared to suffer a non-contact injury and had to be helped off the ice.
Barkov is an extremely important piece to this Panthers team. He has captained the franchise since the 2018-19 NHL season. He has emerged as a star in this league. And he has led this team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.
The Panthers are dealing with multiple injuries. This includes the injury to fellow star Matthew Tkachuk, who will be out for nearly the first half of the 2025-26 NHL season. If Barkov’s injury is long-term, they will be without two of their better players for quite a while.
Head coach Paul Maurice said the team won’t know more about Barkov until Friday. He did speak to the team’s next man up mentality in the wake of this injury, though. It doesn’t matter what the injury report says. The team’s job remains the same.
“It’s beyond our control,” Maurice said, via NHL.com. “We have to learn to win hockey games without good players and if that’s the adversity or the test that we face this year, then that’s what we’re going to do. I mean, I’m not a doctor. Whatever the report is won’t affect how we handle that next day.”
Aleksander Barkov Is A Panthers Legend
Harry How/Getty ImagesAleksander Barkov is one of the most impactful players on the Florida Panthers.
Barkov’s importance to Florida’s current team cannot be understated. His importance to the Panthers organization as a whole, though, may not be able to be expressed in mere words.
The Panthers franchise did not find a ton of success before Barkov’s arrival. They had one appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, which came in 1996. And they had fluctuated between playoff contender and bottom feeder.
As mentioned, Barkov has led the Panthers to two straight Stanley Cups. More than this, he has etched his name in franchise history. He is the current all-time leader in goals, asssists, and points. He is also the only Panthers player to play more than 800 games with the franchise.
Barkov is already a franchise legend. In many ways, he is the heart and soul of this team. Losing the captain is certainly a blow on the ice. Off the ice, it may have an even greater impact.
Florida Will Move Forward No Matter What
Maurice has never been interested in making excuses. He has seen a lot of things happen in his long career. But he has never lamented injuries. They happen, and he understands that. This attitude is not changing now.
“If (Barkov is) out of the lineup on opening night, or if he misses an exhibition game, or if he is out long term, it’s just not going to affect that day,” Maurice said, via NHL.com. “We have to win the hockey game. We have to prep for it. That’s all.”
Hopefully, Barkov avoided a major injury and can return sooner rather than later. The Panthers begin their quest for a third Stanley Cup on October 7th against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.
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