After a long wait, Aleksander Barkov is finally back on the ice for the Panthers in their game against the Sabres. Coach Paul Maurice confirmed this exciting news in Buffalo. Barkov had been out for eight games due to a lower-body injury from an incident during their match against the Senators on October 10th. Over the weekend, he practiced fully with his teammates, hinting at his readiness to play again.
The Panthers have done well without their captain, holding onto the top spot in the Atlantic Division with a 6-3-1 record. This is impressive given that most teams in their division are just breaking even. The Lightning are one of the few other teams doing better than .500.
Barkov will join Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues on his return to action. Reinhart has continued his strong performance from last season, while Barkov’s presence might be just what Rodrigues needs to improve his game ; he’s only scored three points so far and has a -10 rating over ten games.
Impact of Barkov’s Return:
Fans might think this could be a turning point for Rodrigues as he gets another chance to shine alongside such talent. Barkov is coming off an incredible season where he won his second Selke Trophy and led Panthers forwards with impressive stats like a +33 rating and 61 takeaways. He also controlled more than half of shot attempts and expected goals while playing at even strength.
During last year’s playoffs, Barkov was crucial, scoring 22 points in 24 games as Florida celebrated its first Stanley Cup win ever! Interestingly enough, despite being out for so long, Florida never placed him on injured reserve because they still had room on their roster.
What do you think about Barkov’s return? Will it change how things go for the Panthers?
