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Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov Undergoes Knee Surgery, Out 7–9 Months, Putting Season in Doubt

The months-long recovery timeline triggers roster and cap recalibration for the defending champions.

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Overview

  • Barkov suffered a right-knee injury during Thursday’s first full training camp practice and needed help to leave the ice.
  • The team reported successful surgery by Dr. John Uribe at Baptist Health Doctors Hospital to repair ACL and MCL damage, with re-evaluations ongoing and a 7–9 month timeline.
  • Head coach Paul Maurice called the loss a major hole, saying there is no next man to fill Barkov’s skates.
  • Florida is already without Matthew Tkachuk until at least December and Tomas Nosek for an extended period, and Sam Bennett skated on the top line at practice.
  • The timetable threatens Barkov’s entire 2025–26 season and effectively ends his 2026 Olympic hopes for Finland, as management weighs LTIR usage and other moves under the new playoff cap rule.