Barkov again on ice as Panthers have loads of motivation for coaching camp

It occurred in Could, in a far-from-full Swedish area, when Barkov suited up for Finland in an exhibition towards Switzerland for his first recreation since shredding his proper knee within the Panthers’ first coaching camp follow seven-and-a-half months earlier. And on certainly one of his very first shifts, he tumbled to the ice.

“Superb information,” Barkov mentioned.

That was it. That was all it took for Barkov to understand his surgically repaired knee was good, that he might play with out worry or concern. Just a few weeks later, he hoisted the trophy when Finland received the IIHF world championship.

And now he is house in Florida, set for the beginning of coaching camp and able to lead a crew that — even after lacking the playoffs final season — has been set by most sportsbooks because the favorite to win what can be its third Stanley Cup in a four-year span.

“Do not take something with no consideration,” Barkov mentioned, when requested what he realized from not having the ability to play for Florida final season. “You simply must get pleasure from each single probability you get to play hockey, to be together with your teammates, to go to each single follow, each single recreation. You’ve acquired to be enthusiastic about that.”

The Panthers — who have been holding media day on Wednesday prematurely of Thursday’s first follow of camp — have loads of causes to be excited. Many core gamers from the runs to the Cup titles in 2024 and 2025 are again, names like Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Carter Verhaeghe, Gustav Forsling, Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, Dmitry Kulikov and Niko Mikkola.

Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk’s brother, has been added to the combo and Florida even introduced Radko Gudas — a fan favourite from his first stint with the Panthers — again to assist shore up the protection. And in web, with Sergei Bobrovsky gone to Toronto, Florida is popping the goaltender job over to Jacob Markstrom.

“Each single man who has are available in, they appear so decided to be their finest and to point out their finest,” Barkov mentioned. “However additionally they know that we’re all on this collectively. Each single individual is vital, and each single has their very own talents to guide in their very own manner. We’ve a lot of these guys, in order that’s the most effective a part of this. Nobody’s right here by themselves. Everybody will be simply no matter they’re.”

That did not occur final season. Accidents gutted the Panthers, beginning with Barkov.

He acquired harm about 20 minutes into the primary follow of coaching camp, tearing the ACL and MCL in his proper knee on Sept. 25, 2025. He had surgical procedure a day later and was skating inside just a few months, however by the point he was prepared to significantly contemplate returning to recreation motion Florida — which handled accidents all 12 months — was out of playoff rivalry and did not get an opportunity at making an attempt to win a 3rd consecutive Stanley Cup.

It wasn’t totally a misplaced season for Barkov. He missed the possibility to function Finland’s captain on the Milan Cortina Olympics, however performed for his nation on the IIHF world championships this previous spring — and acquired to hoist the trophy when Finland beat host Switzerland 1-0 within the gold medal recreation.

And now, Florida’s profession chief in targets and assists is raring to go together with the Panthers as soon as once more.

“Everyone knows camp is at all times going to be laborious, it doesn’t matter what. It’ll be laborious bodily and mentally,” Barkov mentioned. “We’re all sort of prepared for that take a look at.”