Barkov to undergo knee surgery, could reportedly miss season

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will undergo surgery for the right knee injury he sustained during Thursday's practice, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters Friday.

The team is bracing for the possibility Barkov could miss the entire season, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Here's the play from practice where he was injured.

Barkov notched 71 points in 67 games last season, winning his second straight and third career Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward. He added six goals and 16 assists in 23 playoff appearances to captain the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Florida will be tested without Barkov, but few teams are better equipped to handle the loss of a No. 1 center. Reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett and emerging 23-year-old Anton Lundell project to center Florida's top two lines in Barkov's absence. However, depth center Tomas Nosek is also expected to miss several months with a knee injury.

The Panthers are also beginning the season without heart-and-soul winger Matthew Tkachuk, who is expected to be sidelined until at least December as he recovers from offseason surgery.