When the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers open their season Tuesday, they will be missing two of their biggest stars: Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk.
The Panthers, who will play host to the Chicago Blackhawks in Sunrise, lost Barkov during practice Sept. 25. One of the NHL’s best two-way forwards, Barkov tore his ACL and MCL and is expected to miss at least the regular season while recovering from right knee surgery.
Barkov is Florida’s franchise leader in goals (286), assists (496) and games (804). The Panthers captain also leads in power-play goals (84) and game-winning goals (52).
“I know that the idea is ‘next man up,'” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “But there isn’t a ‘next man’ to fill Barky’s skates.”
In addition to that crushing blow, Tkachuk is likely out until December due to a sports hernia and a torn adductor muscle.
Tkachuk played through both injuries during last season’s playoffs.
Missing the two stars presents quite a challenge for the Panthers. Barkov, 30, led Florida last season in assists (51) and power-play helpers (19), while the 27-year-old Tkachuk has recorded two seasons of 40-plus goals and can get under the skin of opponents with his rough-and-tumble game.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have a new coach in Jeff Blashill, who was an assistant with Tampa Bay the past three seasons. Before that, Blashill, 51, was the coach of the Detroit Red Wings, going 204-261-72 in seven seasons before being fired in April 2022.
With Chicago, Blashill will stress fundamentals with one of the youngest rosters in the league.
“We will make them do it right,” he said of his youthful players.
One of those youngsters is 2023 No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard, a 20-year-old center who led Chicago in assists (44) and points (67) last season.
Another Blackhawks player to watch is Spencer Knight. The 24-year-old former Panthers goalie is expected to start Tuesday.
Last season, Knight played 23 games for the Panthers and 15 for the Blackhawks. His combined statistics included a 17-16-3 record, a .901 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average.
However, his numbers were better with Florida (2.40 GAA) than they were with Chicago (3.18).
Knight, Florida’s first-round pick (No. 13 overall) in 2019, has a golden opportunity with Chicago. Laurent Brossoit, who signed with the Blackhawks in July 2024, has yet to play for the team. He missed last season due to a pair of knee surgeries and is out indefinitely following hip surgery.
Indeed, Knight signed a three-year extension last month, a sign that Chicago has faith in him.
As for Florida’s goalie, look for veteran Sergei Bobrovsky, 37, to start Tuesday.
Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner (2013, ’17) and a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2024, ’25).
Entering the final season of a seven-year, $70 million contract he signed with the Panthers in July 2019, Bobrovsky has provided great value for Florida. Last year, he had a 2.44 GAA — better than his career average of 2.58.
