Florida Panthers captain Sasha Barkov has been placed on long-term injured reserve after sustaining an injury to his left leg per a report.
Tim Reynolds of the AP was first to report Barkov going on LTIR.
Coach Paul Maurice is expected to address the severity of Barkov’s injury after practice in Irvine, Calif., later Saturday afternoon.
By placing Barkov on LTIR, the Panthers will be able to use around $4 million of his $10 million salary cap hit to bring up players from AHL Charlotte.
The Panthers were right up against the NHL Salary Cap and would have had to play shorthanded without the cap relief.
Barkov will have to miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days.
He would be eligible to return Oct. 27 when the Panthers play the host Winnipeg Jets.
Barkov was hurt Thursday in San Jose on what looked like a routine play.
While battling Darnell Nurse and Zach Ostapchuk for a puck in the corner, Barkov’s left leg gave out, his knee twisting on the way down.
Barkov landed on the ice, but hopped to his feet. He immediately pushed open the door leading to the Florida room and tromped down the tunnel.
He showed frustration as he did so, flinging his gloves to the ground and he made his way to the room.
Just prior to losing his footing and hitting the ice, Barkov had been slashed on the wrist and took a stick to the face. Barkov missed the first two minutes of the four-minute power play taken by Kieffer Sherwood for the high stick while he was being attended to on the bench.
Barkov, obvioiusly, did not return to the game after hitting the ice.
The Panthers did rally from a 3-0 deficit before losing 4-3 in overtime.
Maurice said Barkov’s injury on Thursday was not related to the one he sustained to his right knee last September.
Barkov missed all of the 2025-26 season after his right knee gave out without contact in one of his first on-ice drills of training camp.
After having reconstructive surgery on his MCL and ACL, Barkov began skating in January and was practicing with his teammates as the season came to a close.
The Panthers said Barkov would have been ready to play in the postseason had Florida made it.
After leading Finland to gold at the IIHF World Championship, Barkov arrived at Panthers camp last month in great shape and ready to move forward.
Barkov played in his first NHL game since Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
“It was great, just a little different,’’ Barkov said afterward. “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.
”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.’’
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George Richards is the publisher of Florida Hockey Now and has been the beat writer covering the NHL Florida … More about George Richards, FHN Publisher