Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov has been reported as out week-to-week by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Interval. Barkov needed to be helped off the ice after awkwardly colliding with the boards whereas racing Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle to a unfastened puck that’d develop into the clinching empty-net purpose. Pagnotta provides that Barkov appears to have dodged the worst-case state of affairs and that his damage is taken into account a nasty ankle sprain.
Barkov’s significance to the Panthers can’t be understated. He’s been the crew’s unequalled high middle since at the least 2017-18, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time and scoring above point-per-game tempo in all seven seasons since then. He’s develop into well-decorated in that span, profitable the Girl Byng trophy in 2019, the Selke Trophy in 2021 and 2024, and the Stanley Cup in 2024. Barkov has managed only one help in two video games this season — including three blocks, one hit, and no giveaways.
Filling the function of their crew captain can be a frightening activity for the Panthers. Sam Bennett has served because the crew’s de facto second-line middle, although Florida may look in the direction of versatile forwards like Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, or Evan Rodrigues to step right into a middle-lane function. This may be a golden alternative for the 23-year-old Anton Lundell, who’s recorded fewer than 17 minutes of ice time in every of Florida’s video games this season.
Lundell is constructing his fame as a robust two-way participant, even receiving votes for the Selke Trophy in his rookie 2021-22 season. Lundell posted a powerful 54.9 faceoff proportion final season, second on the crew to Barkov’s 57.3 p.c win price. That could possibly be useful assurance because the Panthers look to hold onto their grip of all three zones with out one of many world’s finest defensive forwards.
