Panthers' Barkov eyes hockey worlds after missing season

Florida captain plans to play for Finland after recovering from major knee injury

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:56pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey player in mid-action, their jersey colors representing the Finnish national team. The image captures the raw energy and movement of the sport through Picasso's cubist style.A cubist interpretation of Aleksander Barkov's return to the ice, representing the fractured journey of his recovery and the anticipation of his international comeback.Fort Lauderdale Today

Aleksander Barkov, the Florida Panthers' captain, plans to accept an invitation to play for his native Finland at the upcoming hockey world championships next month. Barkov missed the entire Panthers' season after suffering a major knee injury just 20 minutes into the first practice of training camp.

Why it matters

Barkov's return to the ice will be a welcome sight for Panthers fans, as the team struggled with injuries this season and failed to make the playoffs. The world championships will provide Barkov with his first competitive action since helping the Panthers win their second consecutive Stanley Cup last June.

The details

Barkov has been skating for months as he recovers from the knee injury, but the Panthers knew it would likely take most, if not all, of the regular season for him to be cleared for contact. With the Panthers out of playoff contention, Barkov will now have the opportunity to represent Finland at the world championships, which he says is a 'big goal' for him.

  • Barkov suffered the knee injury 20 minutes into the first practice of the Panthers' training camp.
  • The Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup last June.
  • The 2023 hockey world championships will be held in Switzerland starting May 15.

The players

Aleksander Barkov

The Florida Panthers' captain, who missed the entire 2023-24 NHL season due to a major knee injury.

Bill Zito

The Florida Panthers' general manager and president of hockey operations.

Matthew Tkachuk

A Panthers player who may also represent the United States at the upcoming hockey world championships.

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What they’re saying

“'It's a big honor to represent Finland for me. One of those childhood dreams — to win world championships — is a big goal for me, too. So, I'm really excited about that. I've been working really hard to get in shape.'”

— Aleksander Barkov

“'For him, I think it's really special. He missed so much hockey, he wants to play hockey. It's great.'”

— Bill Zito, Panthers general manager and president of hockey operations

What’s next

Barkov will need to be cleared for full contact before he can officially join the Finnish national team for the world championships. The Panthers will also monitor Tkachuk's status and availability for the tournament.

The takeaway

Barkov's return to the ice, even if it's not with the Panthers, will be a positive development for the team and its fans. The world championships will provide him with a chance to regain his competitive edge and prepare for the next NHL season, where the Panthers will hope to have a healthier roster and make a deep playoff run.