Florida Panthers Center Aleksander Barkov Placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov has been placed on long-term injured reserve with a left leg injury, expected to keep him out for at least 10 games.
Springfield Holyoke, MA, October 3, 2026 — The Florida Panthers announced that center Aleksander Barkov has been placed on the National Hockey League’s long-term injured reserve (LTIR). The team confirmed the move comes as a result of a left leg injury sustained by the captain.
Barkov’s placement on LTIR means he is expected to miss a minimum of 10 games and 37 days of game action, according to league rules. The specific timeline for his return beyond the minimum period was not immediately provided. The nature and severity of the left leg injury were also not detailed.
The Finnish forward is a critical offensive and defensive player for the Panthers. He has been a cornerstone of the team’s success since being drafted second overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. His absence will likely necessitate adjustments to the team’s forward lines and penalty kill units.
The Panthers organization has not yet commented on how they plan to navigate Barkov’s absence from the lineup. Details regarding potential call-ups from the American Hockey League or reassignments of current roster players are pending.
The exact date Barkov sustained the injury was not disclosed. His status will be closely monitored as the team progresses through its schedule. The Florida Panthers are scheduled to play their next game on [Date – missing from summary]. Further updates on Barkov’s condition are anticipated from the team as they become available.
Story summarized from the original created by TIM REYNOLDS, Associated Press on www.wwlp.com, see more information here.
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