Aleksander Barkov is back and the Florida Panthers have a ton of motivation entering training camp
Barkov said his knee feels ready after he played for Finland in the spring and helped lift the world championship trophy.
- On Wednesday, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov participated in media day ahead of Thursday's training camp opening, ready to lead the team as its career leader in goals and assists.
- Barkov missed most of the 2025 season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee about 20 minutes into the first practice of training camp on Sept. 25, 2025.
- Returning to game action 7 1/2 months later, Barkov suited up for Finland in a Swedish exhibition before winning the IIHF world championship in May against Switzerland, confirming his knee was fully recovered.
- Florida enters camp favored by sportsbooks to win its third Stanley Cup in a four-year span, though Sergei Bobrovsky departed for Toronto while the team returns core stars like Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart.
- Reflecting on his absence, Barkov said, "You just have to enjoy every single chance you get to play hockey," as the determined roster prepares for the physical and mental tests ahead.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Barkov is back and the Panthers have a ton of motivation entering training camp
The Panthers — who were holding media day on Wednesday in advance of Thursday's first practice of camp — have plenty of reasons to be excited. Many core players from the runs to the Cup titles in 2024 and 2025 are back, names like Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Carter Verhaeghe,…
The Washington Post
Aleksander Barkov is back and the Florida Panthers have a ton of motivation entering training camp
Aleksander Barkov is back and the Florida Panthers have a ton of motiv
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — In the mind of Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, the difficult part of his comeback is already over. It happened in May, in a far-from-filled Swedish arena, when Barkov suited up for
Barkov Leads Motivated Panthers in Training Camp for Stanley Cup Repeat
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In the mind of Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, the difficult part of his comeback is already over. It happened in May, in a far-from-full Swedish arena, when Barkov suited up for Finland in an exhibition against Switzerland for his first game since shredding his right knee in the Panthers’ first training camp practice seven-and-a-half months earlier. And on one of his very first shifts, he tumbled to the ice. …
After Lost Season, Sasha Barkov Gets Back to Work with Florida Panthers
FORT LAUDERDALE — After missing the entirety of the past season with the Florida Panthers following serious knee surgery, Sasha […] This article: After Lost Season, Sasha Barkov Gets Back to Work with Florida Panthers originally appeared on Florida Hockey Now.
Sportsnet
MSNBCTV NEWSBarkov back on ice as Panthers have plenty of motivation for training camp
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