The Florida Panthers and their fans will have to wait another day to find out how long captain Aleksander Barkov will be out.
Barkov injured his left leg Oct. 1, during a game against the San Jose Sharks. He was playing in his second NHL regular-season game since missing all of the 2025-26 season after having ACL surgery on his right knee.
The Panthers originally hoped to have an answer on Oct. 2, but the team was on the road and the center went to see a doctor on Monday, Oct. 5 after returning home.
"He's in with the doctors today, and we hope to have a more solid answer for you tomorrow," Coach Paul Maurice told reporters.
Maurice didn't put credence in a report that Barkov would miss 10 to 12 weeks.
"Do not bet your hard-earned money on that one,"
Maurice said. "I know you can bet on everything these days, but hang onto your cash, truly. If I don't don't know, nobody else does."
Aleksander Barkov injury update
Barkov, a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward, was seeing a doctor on Monday.
Maurice said an announcement should be made on Tuesday.
"We need a certain amount of information before we can make our best estimate, and we don't have that information yet," Maurice said.
Barkov was placed on long-term injured reserve on Oct. 2, meaning he'll have to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.
The 2024 and 2025 champion Panthers missed the playoffs last season because of injuries to Barkov and other key players.
It will be hard for the 1-0-2 Panthers to adjust to Barkov's absence, but they're a deep team. Plus, Brad Marchand, who was expected to miss October rehabbing from an injury, returned on Oct. 4.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aleksander Barkov injury update as Panthers await answer on captain
