Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL in early training camp and will miss 7-9 months, potentially sidelining him for the full 2025-26 season. He underwent surgery with Dr. John Uribe and will be reevaluated periodically as Florida navigates the setback.

With Barkov out and Matthew Tkachuk out until December, the Panthers lean on Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell to drive the middle, while Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe pick up top-line scoring. Brad Marchand’s return adds veteran depth, and Bill Zito’s cap room via LTIR could spark a midseason maneuver as Florida pursues a deep playoff run.

Fantasy managers should watch how the forward corps rebalances, especially Bennet/Lundell line pairings and the top PP units, as the Panthers chase production amid significant injury disruption.