The Florida Panthers' loss of Aleksander Barkov to knee injuries creates a wide-open race atop the Atlantic Division in 2025-26.
Few NHL players carry more value to their team than Aleksander Barkov does to the Florida Panthers. You can probably count them on one hand. He embodies everything that's allowed the Cats to capture two straight Stanley Cup titles: a smart, team-first, highly effective two-way superstar.
So, while the Panthers' depth still protects them as a likely playoff team while Barkov recovers from a major knee injury suffered in a training camp practice, the massive void he leaves in Florida's lineup does alter the outlook for the Atlantic Division ahead of the 2025-26 season.