Barkov was all smiles with his family surrounding him, and not a crutch in sight.
Although he will be out of the Panthers lineup an estimated 6-8 weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury, Barkov who was wearing a left knee brace, was in great spirits after the diagnosis.
"I feel good. I got good news," Barkov said. "I'll be back soon, as soon as possible. Obviously, it's not the not the thing you want to have, especially after what I went through last year. But it is what it is. Trying to stay positive, and the team is doing really well. It was a good road trip, so I'm really, really happy."
Barkov missed all of last season after having reconstructive surgery on his right knee after going down in his first on-ice session of training camp, and was playing in just his second game this season when the injury occurred.
There was certainly concern after Barkov went down again, he could be out long-term once more.
"My first thought was, 'Do I have to go through that again?' I just started playing again, and this happens? But then, obviously, we got some really good news," Barkov said at the Boca Ice complex about four miles from his home.
"I have a good team of doctors and physical therapists behind me. They are going to take good care of me. So, knowing that, I am pretty calm and very confident in coming back stronger. I am really looking forward to that. … They know what to do to make life better for me. I want to play as much as possible, but I have to think about what I can do to get back sooner."
After hitting the ice when his leg went out from under him, Barkov walked directly off the ice and into the Panthers locker room at SAP Center, throwing his gloves to the ground in frustration.
"Sorry about that," Barkov said Thursday.
But Barkov said he was pretty confident this injury was not as severe as the one he sustained in September 2025.
"I walked back to the locker room. I hopped on the bike for a little bit," Barkov said. "I felt that, 'OK, it's not great, but it's not completely OK,' So, that was like the first good news for me. And then life started getting better."
Selected by Florida with the No. 2 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Barkov has 782 points (286 goals, 496 assists) in 806 regular-season games. He also has 81 points (25 goals, 56 assists) in 94 Stanley Cup Playoff games, captaining the Panthers to back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
He is a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy voted as the best defensive forward in the NHL (2020-21, 2023-24, 2024-25) and won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly play in 2018-19.
Talking to the media in Anaheim on Saturday, Panthers coach Paul Maurice said it was good to have Barkov remain with the team at least a little bit longer after the injury.
Barkov's teammates even had a little fun at his expense.
"They said I was taking my annual vacation," Barkov said. "It's OK. Everyone laughed, I laughed. It's all good."
Barkov did leave his team behind in California, flying back to Florida on Sunday to meet with team doctors.
Barkov said there was no real timeline for a return to skating, but he will find out more when he sits down Friday with the team's physical therapists.
"I just came back from LA, so we will meet tomorrow," Barkov said. "They will have a plan for me."
