Aleksander Barkov Cleared to Play for Finland at 2026 World Championship

The Panthers captain returns from ACL-MCL surgery for his first games since the 2025 Cup Final.

Overview

Finland announced Thursday that Aleksander Barkov will play at the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.
The Panthers’ medical staff cleared him for full contact Wednesday at his end-of-season exam.
The Florida captain missed the entire 2025–26 NHL season after surgery to repair torn ACL and MCL in his right knee.
With the Panthers out of the playoffs, his first competitive games since the 2025 Stanley Cup Final will come for Finland alongside teammate Anton Lundell.
Finland opens the tournament against Germany on May 15 after late‑April camps in Lahti and Kouvola and warmups versus Latvia and Denmark.