IRVINE, Calif. – The Florida Panthers are still waiting for confirmation on the extent of the injury to captain Aleksander Barkov, head coach Paul Maurice announced on Saturday.
Barkov has been placed on LTIR, which means he’s out at least the next 10 games and 24 days.
"Barky's going to see our doctors on Monday,” Maurice said following practice at Great Park Ice Arena. “We know that it's going to be 10 [games] anyway, so we'll see what they say.”
Barkov suffered the injury in the second period of Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss at San Jose.
While battling with two Sharks for the puck in the right corner on a power play, the Panthers superstar captain went down awkwardly and immediately knew that something was wrong.
Getting up right away, Barkov went down the tunnel while throwing his gloves in frustration.
"You never want to see your teammate go down, especially your captain,” forward Eetu Luostarinen said after the game. “Hopefully he's fine, nothing major.”
Missing all of the 2025-26 campaign due to a right knee injury that he sustained on the first day of training camp, Barkov had been looking better than ever since returning to action.
After captaining Finland to gold at the IIHF World Championship in May – including racking up 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 10 games – the 31-year-old center saw 20:32 of ice time in Florida’s 1-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes to open the season on Tuesday.
A franchise icon and one of the top players in the NHL, Barkov has won the Selke Trophy three times as the best-defensive forward in the league, while also standing as the Panthers all-time leader in goals (286), assists (496) and points (782).
In 2024 and 2025, Barkov helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cups.
“It's not related to his injury last year at all,” Maurice said.
In Barkov’s absence, Lars Eller was centering the top line during practice.
Joining the Panthers on a one-year contract as a free agent in July, the 18-year NHL veteran has recorded 440 points (193G, 247A) in 1,186 career games. In 2018, the 37-year-old center scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal while playing for the Washington Capitals.
Overall, Maurice said the Panthers have multiple options with their lineup moving forward.
“No one is going to be able to replace Sasha Barkov, and I’m not trying to,” Eller said. “I’m just trying to play to my own identity and complement my linemates. I’m playing with really good players no matter what. I welcome that opportunity.”
FORSLING UPDATE
Missing last game with an upper-body injury, Gustav Forsling will be a game-time decision to take the ice when the Panthers face-off against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
A late scratch in San Jose, Forsling participated in warmups but did not play.
"He feels pretty good," Maurice said of Forsling, who skated for about 10 minutes prior to practice starting this afternoon. "Just wanted to give him another day without banging on him."
Playing the role of hero during Tuesday’s season opener against the Hurricanes, the 30-year-old defenseman scored with 4.3 seconds left in overtime for a 1-0 win in Raleigh.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Forsling has recorded 221 points (60G, 161A) in 558 career games in the NHL. Since being claimed off waivers by the Panthers in 2021, the smooth-skating Swede is second among NHL blueliners with a +162 plus/minus rating.
With no morning skate prior to puck drop against the Ducks, Forsling’s status for tomorrow’s matchup won’t be known until the Panthers hit the ice for warmups.
Stay tuned.
