Aleksander Barkov May Miss the 2025-2026 NHL Season
The news was broken this morning on September 26, 2025, that Aleksander Barkov may miss the entire 2025-2026 NHL regular season due to a knee injury suffered in practice. Without a definitive timeline for Barkov’s return, and with other Panthers’ star forward Matthew Tkachuk currently expected to miss at least two months to start the season with his own recovery, the Panthers’ chances of winning three consecutive Stanley Cups is currently in jeopardy. However, we can compare the Panthers’ situations to previous teams that faced similar adversity to see if the Panthers are truly doomed, or if there is still reason to be optimistic about a potential dynasty.
Gabriel Landeskog Injury
After the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, captain Gabriel Landeskog would miss the next three regular seasons due to multiple knee injuries and subsequent surgeries. Landeskog made his highly anticipated return to the NHL just this past post-season in game three of the first round against the Dallas Stars. While the Avalanche faired okay without their captain in the three regular seasons from 2022-2025, their disappointing playoff results in his absence (two first round losses and a second round loss) could imply that they missed the tremendous leadership and physicality that Gabriel Landeskog brought to the team.
Nikita Kucherov Injury
After winning the Stanley Cup in 2020 in the playoff bubble, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s most valuable forward, Nikita Kucherov, underwent hip surgery, and would miss the entire 2021 shortened regular season as a result. Nikita Kucherov would return for game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he would lead the playoffs in points and propel the Lightning to their second consecutive Stanley Cup. Although Kucherov’s return for the playoffs created controversy around salary cap and long-term injury reserve (LTIR) rules in the playoffs, the Lightning proved that they were a deep enough team to qualify for the post-season with ease, even without their best forward. The Lightning would go all the way to the finals once again in the 2022 post-season, although this time they would be dethroned by the previously mentioned Colorado Avalanche.
Mark Streit Injury
The New York Islanders were not playoff contenders in the early 2010s, and were in fact going through a rebuilding period, drafting first overall pick John Tavares in 2009. However, it still didn’t help when their best defenceman, Mark Streit, got injured in a team scrimmage in September 2010 prior to the beginning of the 2010-2011 season. Although this didn’t have an impact on any playoff results, the Islanders were certainly worse off without Streit, who would be given the captaincy in his return in the 2011-2012 season. The Islanders would qualify for the 2013 playoffs, their first playoff birth since 2007.
Peter Forsberg Injury
After the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals, Colorado Avalanche’s star center Peter Forsberg would miss the remainder of their cup run due to injury. After winning the 2001 Stanley Cup, Peter Forsberg took the 2001-2002 regular season off to heal, as advised by his doctors. Forsberg would return in the 2002 playoffs, where he led the playoffs in scoring despite the fact that the Avalanche were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals. As a side note, Forsberg also led the 1999 playoffs despite the Avalanche being knocked out in the WCF. In the next season, Forsberg would win the 2003 Art Ross Trophy for most points in the NHL, and the Hart Trophy for the league’s most valuable player. However, in the 2003 playoffs, the Avalanche would lose in the first round against the Minnesota Wild, surrendering a 3-1 series lead. Throughout Peter Forsberg’s injury troubles, the hockey world saw that the Avalanche were two completely different teams with Forsberg and without him. But despite this, the Avalanche still had enough depth and other star players such as Joe Sakic to be successful.
Mario Lemieux Injury and Illness
Probably the most infamous case of a player missing seasons due to injury and illness, Pittsburgh Penguins’ and NHL legend Mario Lemieux announced his first retirement in 1997 due to his ongoing health issues, specifically with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as related back pain. Mario Lemieux would miss three regular seasons spanning from 1997-2000, where the Penguins would qualify for all three post-seasons, as they would still have the best forward in the league in Jaromir Jagr. However, the Penguins’ impact in the playoffs was not as strong in these three post-seasons compared to the early and mid 1990s when Mario Lemieux was playing. They lost in the first round in 1998, and would lose in the second rounds of both 1999 and 2000. After Mario Lemieux returned to the NHL on December 27, 2000, Lemieux would put up 76 points in 43 games played. His 1.77 points per game was by far the most in the NHL, and the Penguins would go all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals in his return. It was obvious that Lemieux’s dominance was greatly missed during the Penguins’ three post-seasons without him.
Gabriel Landeskog has not yet played in the regular season since returning to the NHL from his injury
Should the Florida Panthers be Concerned?
So should the Florida Panthers be worried? As of right now, this question is inconclusive. These past teams, most of which had also won Stanley Cups with their injured player and core teammates, proved that having depth and other star forwards on the team can go a long way in the regular season. Because the Florida Panthers have fantastic offensive depth along with their elite defence and goaltending, I don’t believe their 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff’s hopes will be in jeopardy, even with Matthew Tkachuk also being injured. However, if Aleksander Barkov is out for the entire season, including the post-season, it may make the Panthers’ chances of winning three consecutive Stanley Cups much lower.