Overview

• A day after he left practice with a right‑leg injury, Barkov had surgery on his right knee, the team announced Friday.
• Coach Paul Maurice said Barkov is out for at least several months and acknowledged the possibility he could miss the entire 2025–26 season.
• Elliotte Friedman reported the Panthers are bracing for a season‑long absence, a scenario the club has not officially confirmed.
• The prolonged recovery would likely rule Barkov out of Finland’s Olympic team for Milan‑Cortina in February.
• Florida is already missing forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Tomas Nosek after offseason surgeries, as Maurice stresses a next‑man‑up approach with more medical details to come.