Overview

• Coach Paul Maurice said the captain will miss at least several months and could be out for the entire 2025-26 season.
• A non-contact right knee injury forced Barkov off the ice during Thursday’s first full training camp practice.
• Reports from NHL insiders say Florida is bracing for a season-long absence, and the injury likely rules out Barkov’s Olympic participation for Finland.
• Florida is already down forwards Matthew Tkachuk, who targets a December return from offseason surgery, and Tomas Nosek, who is expected to miss months.
• Practice lines shifted with Sam Bennett moving to center Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart, as Maurice emphasized a next-man-up approach despite Barkov’s irreplaceable role.