SUNRISE - Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov returned from a year-long absence Tuesday night, playing his first NHL game since Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final and helping Florida defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 in overtime to open the new season.
Barkov missed the entirety of last season after blowing out his right knee during his first on-ice practice of training camp - an injury that sidelined him through surgery and a full year of recovery. His return came just days past the one-year anniversary of that injury, according to Florida Hockey Now.
“I feel good, haven’t had any problems with overthinking or anything like that. Just trying to play my game, trying to do my things. I am playing with really good players, and that helps me a lot,” Barkov said after the win.
Barkov logged 20:32 of ice time across 26 shifts, second-most among Panthers forwards behind linemate Sam Reinhart, who led the group at 20:57. Barkov also registered a shot on two attempts with a blocked shot. He showed no signs of rust in the victory, and coach Paul Maurice made clear how much the team had missed its captain.
“I can make a lot more mistakes on the bench when he’s in the lineup,” Maurice said. “It’s all of it. He plays hard, and it’s not just on one side of the puck. He’s not just an offensive player, but he can generate, and he can defend. He’s our leader, our cultural leader as well. He’s just such a fine human.”
Barkov acknowledged the adjustment of returning after a full season away. “It was great, just a little different,” he said. “The speed of the game is really fast. I missed a whole season, and coming here for the first one, I knew it would be a fast-paced game. I think we did a good job, and I am happy with that.”
The Panthers, who hold a 25-15-1 all-time regular season record against San Jose with 7 ties, travel next to SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., for a Thursday night matchup against the Sharks at 10 p.m. San Jose won last season’s meeting 2-0. Florida’s next home game against the Sharks is scheduled for Feb. 21. The Panthers then head to Anaheim to face the Ducks on Sunday at 8 p.m.