LOS ANGELES - Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice pushed back Monday on a social media report projecting captain Sasha Barkov out 10-12 weeks with a knee injury, saying the team does not yet have enough medical information to offer any timeline.
Barkov flew back to South Florida to meet with team doctors after his left leg appeared to give out while he was battling for a puck in the corner during the second period of the Panthers’ second game of the season. Maurice, speaking to reporters at approximately 4 p.m. ET after the team practiced in Los Angeles, said Barkov was still undergoing medical testing.
“Do not bet your hard-earned money on that one,” Maurice said of the reported 10-12 week window, according to Florida Hockey Now. “I know you can bet on anything these days. But hang onto your cash, truly. If I don’t know, no one else does. That’s fair.”
Maurice declined to specify the nature of the injury beyond calling it a “lower body” issue and said a clearer picture would come the following day. “We need a certain amount of information before we can make our best estimation,” he said. “We don’t have that information yet. So, everybody’s guessing. He’s in with doctors.”
The Panthers placed Barkov on long-term injured reserve Saturday, generating approximately $4 million in salary cap relief. Under NHL rules, Barkov must miss at least 10 games and 24 days before he can be activated. The earliest he would be eligible to return is Oct. 27 against the Winnipeg Jets.
The injury compounds an already difficult stretch for Barkov, who missed the entirety of the 2025-26 season after requiring reconstructive surgery on his right knee following an injury on the first day of training camp that year.
The Panthers face the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday at Crypto Arena, where Florida won 2-0 last season. Los Angeles leads the all-time regular season series 27-17-1 with three ties. Florida’s home opener is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. against the Minnesota Wild.