With the NHL regular season kicking off next week, the reigning Stanley Cup champions are facing challenges in terms of losing key players on their team. Captain Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers is set to miss the entirety of the 2025-2026 season after suffering a right knee injury in training camp last Thursday.
The injury came as a result of a collision with Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola during a training camp practice. Barkov successfully underwent ACL and MCL surgery on his right knee but will be sidelined for at least seven to nine months to recover.
This is a monumental loss for the Panthers who are already starting the season without their assistant captain Matthew Tkachuk who had surgery to repair a torn abductor muscle at the end of August.
The reigning champions for the past two seasons owe a lot of their playoff wins to both Barkov and Tkachuk. Barkov led the Panthers in faceoff wins (84) during the playoffs, with Tkachuk scoring eight goals across the playoffs. Both Barkov and Tkachuk are big bodies on the ice who consistently make an impact on both offensive and defensive plays. During the regular season, Barkov ranked second in the team with 71 points; contributing 20 goals and 51 assists.
With two of their star players out indefinitely, the Panthers will need to rely on their other teammates if they want to attempt a three-peat for the Stanley Cup.
Players to keep an eye on:
Sam Reinhart
Reinhart led the Panthers in goals scored last regular season (39) and scored 11 during the playoffs. The right winger contributed four goals during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, helping Florida clinch the trophy for the second year in a row. His performance in this game tied him with Maurice Richard’s record back in 1957 when it was the last time a player scored four goals in a Stanley Cup final game. It can be expected that Reinhart´s ice time will increase, and he will spend most of his time on the top line, filling in for fellow right winger Tkachuk.
Brad Marchand
The former Boston Bruins captain joined the Panthers last season and made an instant impact on the team. Marchand scored 10 goals during the playoffs, including two game winners during the final round. He extended his contract with the Panthers during the off season despite Bruins fans holding out hope he would return to Boston. The 37-year-old left winger signed a six-year deal with the team with a contract worth $31.5 million. It would not be surprising to see the veteran player step into a leadership position on the team, especially with the loss of their captain.
Sam Bennett
Bennett was a key player in the playoffs for the Panthers, leading the team in goals scored (15) and setting a record with the most goals scored on the road during the playoffs (13). As a reward for his accomplishments during the post season, Bennett was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the most valuable player in the playoffs.
Looking ahead, all eyes are going to be on Florida to see if they have what it takes to do well enough during the regular season and make the playoffs for a chance at a three-time Stanley Cup championship. The last time a team won three consecutive Stanley Cups was the New York Islanders from 1980-1983. Without Barkov and Tkachuk, the Panthers will need all hands on deck.
The Florida Panthers begin their regular season on Tuesday at home when they face off against the Chicago Blackhawks. The game is set for 5 p.m. and is available on YouTube TV.