Paul Maurice: No Real Update on Sasha Barkov Injury

Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice did not have much of an update on the injury to captain Sasha Barkov, saying only that he would get looked at on Friday.

The Panthers will be in southern California as their season-opening road trip continues.

"We'll have a good idea by tomorrow afternoon,'' Maurice said.

On Thursday night in San Jose, Barkov was fighting for the puck in the corner with Darnell Nurse and Zach Ostapchuk when his left leg buckled.

When Barkov hopped off the ice, he pushed open the door on the ice and limped down the tunnel into the visitors' room at SAP Center.

He did not return to the game, one Florida rallied from a 3-0 deficit before losing 4-3 in overtime .

Maurice noted that 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 buckled in one of his first on-ice drills of training camp.

After having reconstructive surgery on his MCL and ACL, Barkov started skating in January and practicing with the Panthers before the season came to a close.

Although Barkov did not play for the Panthers last season, he would have been cleared had the team made the playoffs.

Instead, he captained Finland to a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship.

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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This Season — At Anaheim: Sunday. At Florida: Anaheim 3, Panthers 2 SO (Oct. 28)

All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 23-17-2, 3 ties

Up Next for the Panthers: Tuesday at Los Angeles Kings, 10 (ESPN)