You cannot pinpoint one player who exclusively makes the Panthers a Stanley Cup-winning team. But even so, the wealth of talent on the team was being marshaled by an able leader in Aleksander Barkov. Be it delivering on the ice (22 points in 23 playoff games in the 2025 Stanley Cup win) or promoting a culture of unity in the locker room, the Panthers captain has done his duties to the best of his abilities and then some.
If anyone wants proof, just recall Barkov playing the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals with the huge stitch wound in his palm. That’s the level of commitment you can expect from the Finn. So, it’s not a surprise the Panthers have been left with a big conundrum after Barkov’s recent ACL setback has come to light. And the speculation has been about how lengthy the layoff will be. Well, a former Sportsnet analyst is available with an answer.
On the Real Kyper & Bourne show hosted by Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne, former NHL player Kypreos confidently stated that Aleksander Barkov will return for the 2025-26 playoffs. In a short clip of the show shared on X on September 27, Kypreos said, “There’s a lot of people confident he’ll (Barkov) be ready for the playoffs.” And he was again asked by producer Sam McKee, who was making an appearance on the show. The answer was the same from the host: “Yeah, he’ll be back for the playoffs … I am very confident.”
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Barkov’s ACL and MCL injuries were confirmed by the Florida Panthers’ X handle on Sep. 27. As per the tweet, the 30-year-old center had already undergone successful surgery. But the timeline is vague, with the Panthers stating that the usual timeline for recovery from ACL injuries is 7 to 9 months. The Stanley Cup playoffs start around mid-April, which gives the Panthers captain around six and a half months from the first play-off game.
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Will it be too soon for Aleksander Barkov? Is this why the defending champions are considering other options, which involve a 3-time Stanley Cup winner? But that has also brought up the dire need for a $10 million cap space.
Aleksander Barkov injury making the Panthers think
An ACL injury is one of the trickiest to handle. And you need to give ample recovery time and rehabilitation for the player to be completely fit. So, a playoff return for Barkov is really pushing it. Well, in that scenario, the Panthers are looking at a complete season without their captain and star center.
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The problem is that the 2025 Stanley Cup champions don’t want to slow down. Just a few days ago, in a press conference, Barkov himself stated, “It’s not about defending the Cup, it’s about winning it.” Well, to win it in 2026, the Panthers need to find a center. And maybe Aleksander Barkov himself can help. If the Panthers put their captain on long-term injury reserve (LTIR), then his salary cap hit frees up, which is $10 million. And that money can be used to bring in Sidney Crosby.
That came out of nowhere, didn’t it? Well, then, you probably haven’t been following the rumors coming out since early September. The Penguins legend has been attracting interest from numerous NHL teams as Pittsburgh prepares for a rebuild. And among the franchises that can sign Crosby, the Panthers look like the right team for a player of Crosby’s stature.
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And who knows? Sidney Crosby wins his 4th Cup in the year the Panthers do their 3-peat. This is why the Panthers may be evaluating Aleksander Barkov’s recovery timeline and contemplating the possibility of a LTIR. With Barkov’s $10 million cap hit freed, the Panthers can easily fund Crosby’s $8.7 million AAV. And South Florida will see the iconic Sidney Crosby putting on the Panthers jersey.
These are the kind of scenarios and possibilities you can find yourself in when you are one of the most consistent teams in the NHL and the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Now, we wait for the saga to unravel.