Panthers’ Barkov to represent Finland at World Championships
Aleksander Barkov couldn’t play for the Florida Panthers this year. He couldn’t represent his native Finland in the 2026 Winter Olympics, either.
The Panthers’ captain was sidelined all season after injuring the ACL and MCL in his right knee an hour into his first practice of training camp, a setback that required surgery that came with a seven-to-nine-month recovery timeline.
But Barkov will play hockey before embarking on a long offseason ahead after the team missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Barkov confirmed Thursday morning that he accepted an invitation to play for Finland at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The 16-team tournament runs from May 15-31 in Switzerland.
It’s the first time Barkov has played at Worlds since 2016 when Finland won silver.
“I am very excited about that,” Barkov said during the Panthers’ exit interviews at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale. “I know things here, of course, everyone wanted to make the playoffs and play there ... but thankfully, I got an invitation from the Finnish team to join them and play for Worlds.
“It’s a big honor to represent Finland for me, and one of those childhood dreams to win a World Championship is a big goal for me too. So really excited about that.”
It’s something Barkov takes solace in given everything that happened to him this season.
He tried to make a return to the Panthers despite the debilitating knee injury. He began skating again in January and joined team practices in March and traveled with the team down the stretch.
But the only realistic path to him playing for the team was if they made the playoffs. It was nearly impossible he would be cleared by medical staff before then.
All that said, just being around the team helped Barkov mentally as he went through the physical trials and tribulations that went with the rehab.
“It was crucial to be around them,” Barkov said. “Just to be around them, going to the games and spending time with them as much as possible, that helped a lot. I can’t even imagine if I would have had to do it all by myself, isolated from everyone.”
Now, Barkov is basically back to full strength. He said he “has been better and better” every week and that he never felt like he got stuck in one spot throughout the rehab process.
Now, he gets to play hockey.
“I’m super happy for him,” Panthers forward Anton Lundell said. “He’s been working so hard the whole season.”
And Barkov won’t be the only Panthers player taking part at the World Championships. Forward Lundell is set to join Barkov on Team Finland.
“I’ve got to take care of Barky, right?” Lundell said with a smile.
Matthew Tkachuk said he is considering playing for the United States. Defenseman Uvis Balinskis, sidelined to end the season with a foot fracture, is a possibility for Latvia should he get medical clearance. He was skating at the team’s Fort Lauderdale practice facility on Thursday. Forward A.J. Greer said he would be interested in playing for Canada, too.
Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito said he encourages any and all of his players, health permitting, to take advantage of the international opportunities when they come.
“In my mind, if a hockey player wants to play hockey, that’s a good thing, provided they have medical clearance and they’re healthy,” Zito said. “I would encourage anybody who wants to go to go. ... It’s a wonderful experience. It’s a great tournament. It’s a chance for guys to actually have a playoffs. It’s a great opportunity.”
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 12:49 PM.
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