How winning World Championship helped prepare Barkov for NHL return
One of the best players in the world is set to return to his NHL club months after reaching significant heights on the international stage.
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov missed the entire 2025-26 NHL season after suffering a scary injury during the preseason. It cast a shadow over the entire campaign for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, as the team struggled to play up to its standards.
For Barkov, he didn’t just miss the entire NHL season, he also missed a chance to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where his Finnish mates went on to capture a bronze medal in Milan. Barkov was able to return to the ice in the spring, playing for Finland at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship. While it didn’t have the same gusto as the Olympics, the Tampere native played well in Switzerland, scoring three goals and adding 11 points to help the Finns win the gold medal.
When speaking to the media on Wednesday, the 31-year-old explained how playing at the Men’s Worlds was crucial to his rehab for the upcoming NHL campaign.
I got to play some hockey, meaningful hockey, after everything, it already makes me a lot more confident and happy about my situation right now,” Barkov said. “Going into this camp that starts tomorrow, I feel totally normal, and no extra nervousness or anything like that, which is great.”
Barkov noted that had he not played in the tournament, there might be some apprehensions heading into his return.
“I think maybe that wouldn’t have been the case if I didn’t play any hockey at the end of the last season. But I’m happy I did. I’m happy with the outcome, and I’m happy to be here.”
Barkov comes back to a Panthers team that is hoping for a much better performance this year. Florida missed out on the postseason for the first time in seven years, thanks to a boatload of injuries. While there are some new faces on the roster, the team is eyeing a return to playoff contention. The 31-year-old is entering his 14th season in the league. He has scored 286 goals and 496 assists for 782 points in 804 regular-season games, with another 81 points in 94 postseason contests. He’s the Panthers’ all-time leader in goals, assists and points in the regular season, as well as the franchise leader in assists and points in the playoffs.
