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Aleksander Barkov faces six to eight weeks of rehab without surgery

Panthers coach Paul Maurice gave the recovery estimate Tuesday after Barkov’s lower-body injury in San Jose on October 1.

By TSP Staff
Aleksander Barkov playing the puck in a white Florida Panthers jersey.
Aleksander Barkov in the photograph accompanying NHL.com’s October 6 injury update. Capture date not specified. · Credit: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images, via NHL.com

Aleksander Barkov is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury and will undergo rehabilitation without surgery, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday.

Maurice described that timetable as the team’s best estimate rather than a fixed return date. He announced the plan after Florida’s morning skate in Los Angeles.

Barkov was injured during the Panthers’ October 1 overtime loss at San Jose and was placed on long-term injured reserve over the weekend. The captain had missed all of the 2025-26 season after a right knee injury in training camp.

Florida finishes its four-game opening road trip against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Mountain Time.

Sources and notes

  1. Panthers recovery announcement: https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/aleksander-barkov-out-6-8-weeks-with-lower-body-injury
  2. Tim Reynolds/Associated Press via Yahoo: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/florida-captain-aleksander-barkov-not-184659137.html
  3. NHL.com injury report and photograph: https://www.nhl.com/news/aleksander-barkov-injury-status-update-october-6-2026
  4. Official NHL October 6 schedule: https://www.nhl.com/schedule/2026-10-06