Florida Panthers Center Aleksander Barkov Placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov has been placed on long-term injured reserve due to a left leg injury, expected to keep him sidelined for at least 10 games.
Harlingen Weslaco Brownsville McAllen, TX, October 3, 2026 — The Florida Panthers have announced that their captain and center, Aleksander Barkov, has been placed on the National Hockey League’s long-term injured reserve (LTIR). This move comes as a result of a left leg injury sustained by the player.
The designation means Barkov is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of 10 games. The exact timeline for his return to the ice has not been specified beyond this minimum requirement. The nature and severity of the left leg injury beyond its placement on LTIR were not immediately detailed by the team.
Barkov, a key player for the Panthers, will be absent from the team’s lineup for upcoming contests. The team will need to adjust its strategy and roster to compensate for his absence during this period.
The NHL’s Long-Term Injured Reserve rules allow teams to exceed the salary cap if a player is expected to be out for at least 10 games and 24 days. However, the player cannot return to play until they have met these minimum conditions.
Further updates on Barkov’s condition and potential return date are expected to be provided by the Florida Panthers organization as they become available.
Story summarized from the original created by TIM REYNOLDS, Associated Press on www.valleycentral.com, see more information here.
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