Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will be out six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury after being hurt in their second game back from a season-long absence.
The Panthers coach Paul Maurice announced the diagnosis on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Barkov went down awkwardly on his left leg during a board battle in the second period against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 1. He got up and limped to the dressing room, throwing off his glove in anger.
Barkov had missed the entire 2025-26 season after suffering injuries to his ACL and MCL in his right knee during training camp and having surgery.
Aleksander Barkov heads STRAIGHT off the ice after falling awkwardly on his leg 🤕 Barkov missed all of last season after receiving right knee surgery for a torn
ACL and MCL... pic.twitter.com/t4Vh9OGKTe
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 2, 2026
Barkov is a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward, including during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. The Panthers won the Stanley Cup in both of those seasons.
His injury last season was one of many that derailed the Panthers as they missed the playoffs after three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov out 6-8 weeks with lower-body injury
