Panthers Issue Mildly Positive Update on Aleksander Barkov's Injury

The Florida Panthers are bracing for a brief stint without their captain, Aleksander Barkov, after a lower-body injury forced him out of Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.

Barkov collided with the boards while trying to prevent an empty-net goal, leading to concerns about the severity of his injury.

Both Barkov and Tim Sutzle crashed behind the Panthers' net with just 70 seconds left to play, but Florida's forward got the worst of the action. Barkov couldn't leave the ice on his own and had to be helped off the rink by his teammates.

Entering Saturday's contents against the Buffalo Sabres, which the Panthers ended up losing 5-2, head coach Paul Maurice provided a relatively positive, albeit fuzzy, update on Barkov's injury.

Maurice announced that Barkov is expected to be out for two to three weeks, avoiding a more serious scenario that could have led to his placement on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) or even worse.

“We think two to three weeks is probably the right window on him,” Maurice said . “He’s a strong healer. He’s just a big powerful man, puts a lot of torque on his joints.

"We’re optimistic, I think very optimistic, that he’ll play in Finland.”

Maurice was referencing the team's November matchups in Finland , including two games in Barkov's hometown of Tampere. The games are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 1-2.

Early reports raised concerns about a possible fracture , but imaging showed no breaks.

Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed that Barkov had avoided a worst-case scenario before Maurice shared the team's timeline for his recovery.

"We will see about exact timeline, but good news for Aleksander Barkov is imaging determined no fracture," Friedman reported on X. "So he will be out a bit, but worst outcomes avoided, thankfully."

Barkov is the all-time franchise leader in goals, assists, and points, and he's been instrumental for the Panthers, both in regular-season success and in their Stanley Cup-winning run last season.

Trying to make up for Barkov's absence , Florida placed Tomas Nosek on LTIR while calling up forward Patrick Giles from the AHL's Charlotte Checkers.

Related: Panthers Make 2 Roster Moves in Aleksander Barkov's Injury Aftermath