Marchand and company knew the 2025-26 NHL season would be a rollercoaster. The Panthers learned that from the get-go, as Tkachuk recovered from offseason surgery and captain Barkov went down with ACL and MCL injuries during the preseason.

Missing arguably their two best players and biggest leaders in the locker room—with starkly opposite yet complementary personalities—Florida knew it was in for a whirlwind of a year. Still a ways from reaching the light at the end of the tunnel, Marchand and the rest of the team received an encouraging update on where Barkov and Tkachuk stand in their comeback journey.

“They’re where they’re supposed to be,” head coach Paul Maurice admitted about Barkov and Tkachuk, as reported by Jameson Olive on X (formerly Twitter). “Hope is that Tkachuk will be able to get back on the ice and start that phase of his rehab in the next 2 weeks,” the Panthers’ beat writer added.

How Barkov and Tkachuk’s absences impact the team

Without Barkov and Tkachuk, Marchand and the Panthers seem stuck in a loop. Over the past nine games in the NHL, Florida has intertwined wins with losses. Such a statistic indicates there’s a silver lining: the Cats don’t dwell on defeats, nor they stay on the ground for too long.

On the other hand, it also indicates they can’t be consistent. In the NHL regular season, consistency is the name of the game, and that’s what leads teams to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The postseason is a different beast—one the Panthers seem to have tamed and kept as a house pet in Broward County. However, it’s of no use if Florida can’t make the playoffs, and that’s the way it’s trending as the reigning back-to-back champions continue to perform in fits and starts.

Meanwhile, Marchand will stay the number one weapon

Obviously, the cons far outweigh the pros of being without players like Tkachuk and Barkov. Still, there are a few positives the Panthers can take from this challenging stretch—chief among them, Marchand’s production.

If there were any concerns about how the 37-year-old veteran would perform in the first season of his six-year, $31.5 million contract, they’ve been put to rest early in the 2025-26 NHL campaign. Many feared his postseason surge last year was simply the product of playing for his next deal. After all, hungry dogs do run faster. But in Marchand’s case, he’s not chasing money—though it certainly feels nice. Instead, he’s playing for his legacy.

Marchand recently voiced his true thoughts as he enters the twilight of his career. And while he often hints at retirement with sincere remarks, his mindset should keep fans in South Florida confident that a three-peat is possible—and that dynasties aren’t extinct in the NHL.

Living in tropical South Florida, the Panthers know by heart that when it rains, it pours. Marchand has been in town for less than a year, but he’s already learned the meaning of that saying. The sun might shine year-round, with the Cats hoisting back-to-back Stanley Cups, but now they can’t seem to stop running into obstacles in the NHL.

In addition to Tkachuk, Barkov, and Tomas Nosek’s absences, Marchand and the Cats will now be missing defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, who went down with an upper-body injury in the second game of the 2025-26 NHL season.

As beat reporter Jameson Olive stated, Paul Maurice announced Kulikov is expected to miss five months. The blueliner underwent surgery to repair a labral tear, as the Panthers’ head coach commented.

Hold it down

Whenever it seems Florida has hit rock bottom in terms of depth and injuries, the Panthers are surprised with new lows. Marchand and company knew they faced an uphill climb in the 2025-26 NHL campaign, but they never imagined it could incline even further.

With Barkov, Tkachuk, Kulikov, and Nosek all expected to miss at least the first half of the season, the Panthers must find strength where there seems to be none. Florida must hold its ground as the rest of the league senses that the Cats are at their weakest point in a very long time.

If any team wants to take a swing at the back-to-back champions, this might be the time to do it. However, judging by how this season is shaping up for Florida, things could still get even tougher down the road.

Marchand and the Panthers need to look strong in times of great adversity. With Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov out for a long stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season, the Cats know there is a target on their backs. The rest of the league will be coming for the back-to-back champs.

The last thing Florida can afford right now is to show weakness. It might be time to make a bold move in the NHL. That’s certainly an area of expertise for GM Bill Zito and the brass in Sunrise.

Amid uncertain days in Pittsburgh, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby makes it clear he is in The Burgh to stay. However, his iconic duo, Evgeni Malkin, might be on a different state of mind. If the reigning champions were to come knocking on the door of the Pens (projected to be a lottery draft team in the NHL), who’s to say what Malkin’s answer will be?

Time to hunt

“The growing narrative in the league right now with Barkov going out and Malkin having a house in Miami, that they’ll probably find a way for him to be the 1C in Florida before too long,” as reported by Greg Wyshynski on Halford and Brough in the Morning.

The Panthers aren’t going to stand with their arms crossed wondering how they might look with Malkin in town. Similarly to last season’s trade for Marchand, the Cats may be ready to dive into the water and see how real is the prospect of Malkin moving down to Broward County.

#87 is a different question

While Malkin may be open to the possibility of skipping town in the City of Bridges, all signs indicate Crosby isn’t wavering in his commitment, whatsoever. They are in different situations, though.

Malkin is entering the final season of his four-year, $24.4 million deal, and it’s expected to be his farewell campaign in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Crosby is only entering the first campaign of his two-year, $17.4 million extension.

“Everyone around Sid wants him to leave, Sid doesn’t want to leave, and that’s kind of where we are with it right now,” insider Greg Wyshynski added on the situation around Crosby and the Penguins.

It wasn’t always pretty, but Marchand and the Panthers found a way to walk out with the victory in the NHL season opener. Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks put up a great fight, but it wasn’t enough to spoil the celebratory night in Sunrise.

As Florida passed its first test without captain Barkov and key leader Tkachuk, Marchand knows the journey has only just begun for the Cats. The Panthers know that, too. The chase for the franchise’s third Stanley Cup will be exhausting and demanding, but one game into the ride, there are already positive signs.

“It’s great to see that we continue to rely on our depth throughout the entire game. That’s how every good team has success,” Brad Marchand admitted to reporters after the game. “You can rely on a couple of guys for a little bit, but to have success all the way through the year and playoffs, you need everyone. It’s great that we still have that.”

Embrace adversity

Though far from ideal, such a challenge out of the gate could help forge the Panthers. After all, it isn’t the first time this team has been under duress, and so far, Florida has passed each test.

“We’ve already had to face some adversity this year and it’s a great opportunity to come together. Even with Tkachuk and Barkov in the lineup, [grinding it out] is kind of our motto. You look at the way we played to finish the season and in the playoffs, that was our game. It’s a recipe for success,” Marchand added.

Next man up

“Obviously, those are some big holes to fill. [Tomas Nosek] being out hurts as well. But it’s just another opportunity for guys and that next man up mindset. We’re going to get everybody’s best every night. We know that,” Marchand concluded. “We just have to prepare for that.”

Up next, Marchand and the Panthers will host the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on October 9 at 7:00p.m. ET. It will be yet another test against a young team looking to land a blow on the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

The Panthers need to gather strength from any corner ahead of a new NHL season. With Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov out for a big stretch of the campaign, it’s up to Marchand and company to keep the team afloat. Needless to say, no team will show mercy to Florida.

However, as injury-riddled as the Panthers may be, they are still the reigning Stanley Cup champs. Their name demands respect. Moreover, cats always stick the landing, and the felines in Sunrise are no exception. When announcing the official opening night roster, Florida hinted it may have an ace up its sleeves.

The Panthers haven’t placed Barkov on season-ending long-term injured reserve (LTIR) in their opening night roster. Therefore, the captain is still eligible to return at some stage of the 2025-26 NHL campaign.

The patient game

Of course, the Panthers could retrace their steps and place Barkov on LTIR. If that were to happen, the captain would most likely only return in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That is, provided the Cats remain under the NHL’s salary cap.

This season, a new playoff cap system has been introduced to address the controversies surrounding LTIR players returning in the postseason while pushing teams over the cap. That can no longer be done, and teams are still adjusting to the changes.

Filling in

Although Marchand blossomed on the third line last season, playing alongside Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, the recent events call for head coach Paul Maurice to re-shuffle the lineup.

Now, Marchand is being promoted to the first line, where he is set to join Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett. The Panthers are still testing thin ice, so the lines are expected to undergo more changes if needed. For the moment, however, Marchand and Bennett will get a go together. As Maurice stated, Marchand can be very similar to Tkachuk, so Chucky’s replacement was right there for him.

The story will come full circle for the new duo—from Bennett’s controversial hit on Marchand during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, to an awkward reunion that struck gold with Team Canada, to now being linemates on the reigning back-to-back champs.

Gregor brings a combination of size, skill, and experience that the Panthers hope will complement their high-powered core. Standing 6-foot and weighing 201 pounds, the Alberta native has played in 293 NHL games with the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, and Maple Leafs, totaling 70 points and over 550 hits. His mix of physicality and two-way play fits the Panthers’ system perfectly.

Early-season challenges confront the Panthers as they sign a former Auston Matthews teammate to a lineup missing Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov due to injuries, while Brad Marchand leads the effort to maintain the team’s dominance in the Eastern Conference.

What are the details behind Gregor’s latest contract?

The club announced that President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zito has signed Gregor to a one-year, two-way deal. Last season, he played 52 games split between the Sharks and Senators, registering seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) and 94 hits.

From WHL champion to NHL veteran

Before turning pro, Gregor had a decorated junior career in the Western Hockey League, including a WHL championship with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2018–19.

Internationally, he earned a silver medal representing Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, he brings playoff experience, toughness, and speed—qualities the Panthers hope will pay dividends this season.

The 2025–26 NHL regular season opener was meant to showcase the Panthers’ championship pedigree. Instead, it will test their resilience. Barkov, the team’s captain and emotional leader, and Tkachuk, their engine of offense and intensity, will both start the year recovering from serious injuries.

Their absences immediately shift the pressure toward secondary scorers like Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell, as head coach Paul Maurice faces the challenge of keeping his team’s championship rhythm alive without its top stars.

Why is Matthew Tkachuk not playing today vs Chicago?

The Panthers confirmed that Tkachuk is sidelined as he continues recovery from offseason surgery. The star winger underwent procedures to repair a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia — injuries he battled through during last season’s playoff run. Tkachuk’s recovery timeline has him expected to return around December, depending on how his conditioning progresses.

What happened to Aleksander Barkov?

The Panthers have confirmed that Captain Barkov is out for 7-9 months after undergoing knee surgery. The devastating lower-body injury suffered during practice on September 25, sidelines him for the foreseeable future.

The injury is a massive setback for the Panthers, as Barkov’s elite two-way presence has been central to their back-to-back championships. Without him, Florida loses not just a top scorer but also one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL — a void that will take more than one player to fill.

The challenge ahead for Florida

Opening night against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks marks a new test for a Panthers roster built on depth and grit. The team’s leadership group insists that these early-season challenges will only strengthen their resolve.

If Florida can stay competitive without Barkov and Tkachuk until winter, they’ll remain a serious contender when both stars return. But for now, the spotlight falls on the supporting cast to prove the Panthers’ dynasty ambitions are still very much alive.

It isn’t the start Florida envisioned for its 2025–26 NHL season. Now, the Panthers have no choice but to be resilient. It won’t be the first time—nor the last—that the reigning Stanley Cup champions are put to the test this year. Marchand and company knew that coming into preseason, but the stakes have only risen higher now.

With Barkov’s recovery expected to take all of the regular season—and possibly the Stanley Cup Playoffs—the pressure is on Marchand and the Panthers to keep the wagon afloat in the NHL. On that note, the leading veteran presence in Sunrise issued a powerful statement.

“You can have guys go down and still have success,” Brad Marchand said during a press conference. “There’s not one player that you rely on. There’s a team game that’s in place and allows you to have success. It doesn’t matter who is in or out. You see that with really good teams, they are able to find a way to win when guys go down.”

Exhibit A

Obviously, losing the arguably best player on the team and captain is far from ideal. No matter how much a team can learn from such adversity, the Panthers would much rather be better off with their lineup fully healthy. Still, this is the hand Florida has been dealt for the upcoming NHL season.

If any team in the league has grown accustomed to overcoming key absences, it’s the Panthers. Still, missing two stars like Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk to open the campaign might be too much, even for them.

Third time is the charm

The hopes of a Stanley Cup three-peat have taken a big blow in Broward County. It was never going to be easy, though—there’s a reason no franchise has accomplished such a feat since the NHL introduced the salary cap. Still, the Cats like their chances, even when the odds are stacked against them.

In fact, that might be when Florida believes in itself the most. As it stands, every team is coming for the Panthers’ crown. The Cats won’t back down from a fight, even when there’s no safety in numbers or the captain can’t be on the ice to help out.

Barkov’s absence rules him out for the remainder of the regular season and the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he was expected to represent Finland. His potential return aligns with the late-April start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Florida must adapt in the meantime.

Brad Marchand offered insight into the impact of losing a player of Barkov’s caliber. Speaking to media and shared via Katie Engleson on X, Marchand said:
“He’s the best two-way player in the game. You can’t replace that. But, collectively as a group, you just try to all pick up a little piece of that and try a little bit harder, try to fill in where you can, and hopefully as a group, you can come together.”

How will the Panthers compensate for Barkov’s loss?

The Panthers could lean heavily on depth players such as Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen to help stabilize the forward group. While Barkov’s absence leaves a significant void, Florida’s ability to respond collectively—through structure, effort, and internal leadership—will be tested in the months ahead

As the regular season unfolds, the Panthers’ ability to adapt without their star captain will be critical, and Marchand’s comments underscore the respect Barkov commands across the league.

The injury occurred in front of a lively preseason crowd, with Brad Marchand and other veterans immediately rallying around their captain. While the full extent of the injury has yet to be determined, early reports suggested the Panthers were bracing for the worst.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported: on “X” “Going to know more in the next 24–48 hours, but Panthers are bracing for the possibility their captain, Aleksander Barkov, could be lost for the season. Would be brutal, no one wants to see that… but, unfortunately, was a bad injury.”

The timing of Barkov’s injury could not be worse. The regular season begins in less than a week, and the Panthers were already counting on their captain to anchor the top-six forward group and provide leadership on and off the ice. Barkov’s absence would shift responsibilities to the newly acquired veteran Brad Marchand, who may be tasked with carrying a larger leadership role than initially anticipated.

How will the Panthers adjust without Barkov?

The loss of Barkov would force Florida’s coaching staff to reorganize the forward lines and consider internal solutions to replace his two-way presence. Barkov’s production and consistency have made him one of the league’s elite centers, and his ability to control pace, generate offense, and stabilize the penalty kill is difficult to replace.

What’s next for Barkov and the Panthers?

Katie Engleson reported on “X” that “Per HC Paul Maurice, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is currently undergoing surgery (right knee injury). Maurice says they will hopefully have a detailed update later today.” This procedure will determine the severity of the injury and provide clarity on Barkov’s availability for the season, leaving the Panthers and Brad Marchand preparing for multiple scenarios.

The air in Sunrise suddenly grew thicker. After a summer-long celebration after back-to-back Stanley Cups, the Panthers are now staring down a potentially season-changing hurdle. It’s not like Marchand, Barkov, and the Cats haven’t grown used to them, but it might be more than the team can take.

With Matthew Tkachuk on the NHL’s long-term injured reserve (LTIR), Marchand and the forwards group knew they’d have to work overtime. Now, those extra hours might only multiply.

“Aleksander Barkov sustained an apparent right leg injury during training camp on Thursday,” as reported by the Miami Herald. “It’s unclear what caused the injury but Barkov laid on the ice for several minutes before being helped to dressing room by two staff members. Barkov put very little weight on his right leg while leaving the ice.“

Not again

Unfortunately, for as much success the Panthers have found under Barkov’s captaincy, the Finn has struggled to stay fully healthy in recent years. Though the severity of his injury remains unknown, it could spell troubling news for Marchand and company.

If Barkov indeed misses considerable time and the beginning of the NHL regular season, it’ll be the sixth-straight campaign he is physically unable to participate in every game. Barkov last played 82 games in a season during the 2018-19 campaign.

Needless to say, the Panthers have enough firepower and experience in their ranks to weather any storm. However, missing the three-time Frank J. Selke Trophy winner is far from ideal when the rest of the league is already coming for Florida’s crown.

Defend the territory

With Matthew Tkachuk and Tomas Nosek both expected to miss large stretches of the year, teams may start to smell blood. It’s up to the Cats to stand up to the challenge and hold their ground. At the very least, until their big guns return to the ice, whenever that may be. Head coach Paul Maurice made sure to send that message across the locker room.

“He will get looked at today. It’s beyond our control,” Maurice said, per Miami Herald. “We have to learn to win hockey games without good players. If that’s the adversity or the test that we face this year, then that’s what we’re going to do. I’m not a doctor, so whatever the report is won’t affect how we handle the next days.

“If [Barkov is] not in the lineup on Opening Night or if he misses an exhibition game or if he’s out long-term, it’s just not gonna affect that day. We’ve got to win hockey games. We’ve got to prep for it. That’s all.”

Fight for the throne

Florida might look debilitated, but make no mistake: this isn’t the Panthers’ first rodeo. Missing key players to start the season has been a common theme in recent years, and there should be no need to remind anybody how these last seasons have gone for the Cats. If you go for the king, you best not miss—and now might be the best time to deliver a strike on the reigning back-to-back champs. Bear in mind, though, the Cup is not won in October.