FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers, fresh off back-to-back Stanley Cup triumphs, now face a challenge that could define their dynasty: navigating an entire season without their captain and heartbeat, Aleksander Barkov. The news broke last week that Barkov suffered devastating ACL and MCL tears in his right knee during training camp, an injury expected to sideline him for seven to nine months—effectively the entire 2025-26 regular season, and possibly the playoffs as well.
Barkov’s absence isn’t just a loss on the ice; it’s a seismic shift for a franchise that’s built its identity around his two-way brilliance and steady leadership. Since being named the Panthers’ 10th captain in 2018, Barkov has been at the center of everything Florida has achieved. Images of him hoisting the Cup are plastered throughout the team facility, a constant reminder of the heights he’s helped the club reach. Now, the Panthers must attempt the unthinkable: chasing a three-peat without the man who’s set the standard.
"Look, you can’t replace this guy," said Bill Zito, the Panthers’ president of hockey operations and general manager. "So, we have to do things differently. It's just going to be different. And we’re going to have to figure out ways for all of us to be better, myself included. And it’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be a battle. We’re going to have to scratch and claw." (AP)
Barkov’s value can’t be measured by simple stats. While he hasn’t led the Panthers in scoring since the 2018-19 season, his impact is everywhere. Since joining the NHL 12 years ago, Barkov ranks 17th in points, 31st in goals, and 16th in assists league-wide. Last year, his leadership and defensive acumen earned him both the King Clancy Trophy and the Selke Trophy—proof positive of his irreplaceable presence at both ends of the ice and in the South Florida community.
His absence is compounded by the loss of other key leaders. Alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk is out until at least December or January with his own injury. Tomas Nosek, a vital fourth-line center during last season's playoff run, is also sidelined indefinitely following knee surgery. The result? The Panthers’ famed depth, which saw 11 different players score game-winners in last year’s playoffs (tying the second-most in NHL history), will be tested like never before.
Coach Paul Maurice, who guided Florida to its second straight championship last June, isn’t panicking. He points to the team’s unique leadership culture—a horizontal structure where responsibility is shared among veterans and rising stars alike. "If you have a really strong top-down hierarchy, that leadership void is huge,’’ Maurice said after Barkov went down. "But we have a much more horizontal idea in there. … Sam Reinhart doesn’t wear an ‘A,’ but he could be the captain of this team. And that’s as true today as it was before. We can talk about just about anyone in that room after that. So, when we say we’re going to share that loss, we’ll share the loss, the captaincy, all of it across the board." (Florida Hockey Now)
Indeed, the Panthers’ room is loaded with battle-tested leaders. Aaron Ekblad, the second-longest tenured Panther, wears an ‘A’ and is expected to anchor the defense. Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart—both playoff heroes—are ready for expanded roles. Sergei Bobrovsky remains a steadying force in net, while Carter Verhaeghe and Gus Forsling provide further experience and skill. The recent arrivals of Brad Marchand and Seth Jones, both respected leaders elsewhere, only add to the leadership mix. Marchand, who captained the Boston Bruins before his trade to Florida, has already made a major impression. "One of the things I was really impressed with when I came in was, you didn’t feel like one guy led the way. You felt like everyone was very dialed in to what they had to do. Everyone was bought in, everyone did everything as a unit. That is very special and you don’t see that often where the guys are one," Marchand said. (Florida Hockey Now)
Without Barkov and Tkachuk, the Panthers will likely make changes to their alternate captain assignments. In past years, the club has designated up to four alternates, split between home and road games. Maurice has yet to confirm his plan for the 2025-26 season, but with so many candidates, there’s no shortage of options. Marchand seems a natural fit for a letter, given his pedigree and immediate integration into the locker room. "It makes it easier that he’s here for sure," Zito noted. "In a unique way, it has been a short period of time, but doesn’t it feel like he has always been here? He seems like he’s part of the furniture." (Florida Hockey Now)
On the ice, the void left by Barkov will be filled by committee. Anton Lundell, often compared to a young Barkov, is expected to step into the top-line center role. Mackie Samoskevich, who has shown significant growth since his rookie year, will be counted on for more offense. Evan Rodrigues, the ultimate Swiss Army knife, could find himself bouncing between lines as needed. And then there’s Reinhart and Bennett, both capable of carrying the load in big moments—Reinhart, after all, scored four goals in the Cup-clinching Game 6 win over Edmonton last June.
"There’s no easy games in this league and then losing Barkov makes it that much harder," Ekblad admitted. "That's something we’re going to have to embody, a day-by-day mindset—almost like the playoffs. Come in every day, do a job and do it together." (AP)
The Panthers’ path forward isn’t without intrigue off the ice, either. With Barkov and Tkachuk both on long-term injured reserve, Florida suddenly has significant salary cap flexibility. That’s fueled speculation about potential trades to bolster the roster. A rumor linking the Panthers to Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin was quickly debunked, but the front office hasn’t ruled out making a move for a younger, two-way player if the right opportunity arises. For now, though, Zito and Maurice are committed to their internal options and the culture they’ve painstakingly built.
Meanwhile, the preseason has offered a glimpse of the road ahead. The Panthers are 1-2 through three games, with a 4-2 win at Carolina sandwiched between two losses in Nashville. Upcoming preseason tilts against Carolina and the rival Tampa Bay Lightning will help Maurice finalize his lineup before the regular season opens October 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The club will also celebrate its most recent championship with a ring ceremony at the Fort Lauderdale War Memorial on October 6—a poignant reminder of what’s at stake.
Barkov, though sidelined, will remain a constant presence. He’ll be around the team, lending his voice and wisdom in the locker room. "His job as captain is much easier based on the kind of players on his team," Maurice said. The Panthers insist they don’t need outside motivation to chase history. "I don’t think this group needs fuel," Marchand said. "We know who we are. We know what our goals are and what we’re looking at doing this year. Looking down the road at winning the Stanley Cup is the last thing you want to do right now. There’s such a long road before that and there’s so many different things you need to overcome." (AP)
So, as the Panthers prepare for their title defense with their captain on the shelf, one thing’s for sure: this group isn’t backing down from adversity. If anything, they’re embracing it—ready to prove that their standard of excellence extends well beyond any one player, even one as irreplaceable as Barkov.
