Overview
- Coach Paul Maurice said Aleksander Barkov will miss the entire 2025-26 season as he continues rehab from ACL surgery and other knee ligament damage.
- The October 7-to-9 month timeline allowed for a playoff return, which the team set aside once it fell out of the race.
- Florida is 35-35-3 with 73 points and sits 28th in the NHL, which likely ends any chance at a three-peat in the Salary Cap Era.
- Long absences for Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk have strained depth and production.
- The 30-year-old captain is a three-time Selke winner and the franchise scoring leader, and he last played in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final during the Panthers’ second straight title.