- The Panthers have moved their captain to long-term injured reserve two days after he got hurt in San Jose
- Florida still doesn’t know how serious the lower-body injury is
- Read below for the earliest date Barkov can return and the video of the injury
Aleksander Barkov is going to miss a lot more than one game.
The Panthers placed their captain on long-term injured reserve Saturday, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press reported. That rules Barkov out for at least 10 games and 24 days, and Reynolds added that the team is still unsure of the severity.
There is some good news mixed in. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan said there is optimism the injury isn’t season-ending while Barkov continues to be evaluated.
Ten games puts the earliest possible return on Oct. 27 in Winnipeg. Florida’s next 10 run from Sunday in Anaheim through Oct. 25 in Chicago.
Barkov went down in Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Sharks. He fell awkwardly on his left leg in the corner during the second period, got up and went straight to the dressing room.
Watch the Barkov injury video:
Paul Maurice said after the game that this one has nothing to do with the right knee that cost Barkov all of last season. He tore his ACL and MCL on the first day of training camp in 2025 and needed surgery.
That’s what makes this so cruel. Barkov captained Finland to gold at the World Championship in May, looked like himself in camp and logged over 20 minutes in the opener against Carolina. Thursday was only his second game back.
Money is part of the move too. Florida opened the season with just 21 players because it’s pressed right up against the cap. LTIR frees up a little under $4 million in space. The Panthers would only get relief on Barkov’s full $10 million cap hit if he were ruled out for the entire season, playoffs included.
Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell will have to carry the load down the middle without him. The Panthers missed the playoffs last spring with Barkov out, one year after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups.
A three-time Selke winner, Barkov has 782 points (286 goals, 496 assists) in 806 career games. He is still looking for his first point of 2026-27.
