Aleksander Barkov Lands on LTIR and Lars Eller Centers Brady Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart in Anaheim
By Verdexed NHL Desk
The Florida Panthers have their answer on Aleksander Barkov, at least the short version. The captain was placed on long-term injured reserve Saturday with a lower-body injury, which takes him out for a minimum of 10 games and 24 days. He sees team doctors Monday to determine the full extent of the damage, so the real timeline is still pending.
The early read is more encouraging than the replay looked. Barkov's left knee buckled in the right corner during a Florida power play at 8:07 of the second period Thursday in San Jose, and he went straight for the Zamboni doors. He had an MRI afterward, and ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported that the Panthers are optimistic the injury is not season-ending because the scan did not reveal the worst-case scenario. Coach Paul Maurice said it is not related to the right knee injury (ACL and MCL) that cost Barkov all of 2025-26.
That is the confirmed picture heading into Sunday night at Honda Center (8 p.m. ET). Fantasy managers and bettors now have to price a Florida lineup that is missing its captain, Brad Marchand (offseason lower-body surgery) and possibly Gustav Forsling.
Where Florida stands after two games
The Panthers are 1-0-1. They spoiled Carolina's banner night with a 1-0 overtime win on Forsling's one-timer with 4.3 seconds left, then dropped a 4-3 overtime decision in San Jose after rallying from 3-0 down. Eetu Luostarinen scored twice against the Sharks, including Florida's first power-play goal of the season, and Matthew Tkachuk tied it 3-3 just 17 seconds after Luostarinen's second.
| Player | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Aleksander Barkov | LTIR | Lower body (left knee), out at least 10 games and 24 days, doctor visit Monday |
| Brad Marchand | Out | Offseason lower-body surgery |
| Gustav Forsling | Game-time decision | Upper body, scratched in San Jose after warmups |
| Matthew Tkachuk | Active | Scored the tying goal in San Jose |
| Sam Lafferty | Recalled | Called up from AHL Charlotte |
| Alexander Petrovic | Recalled | Called up from AHL Charlotte |
Forsling is the one to watch at warmups. He took part in warmups in San Jose before being scratched, Maurice said he feels pretty good after skating about 10 minutes before practice, and Florida is not holding a morning skate Sunday. That means his status likely will not be known until shortly before puck drop.
Who centers the top line
Lars Eller does, at least to start. The 37-year-old, signed to a one-year deal in July, centered Brady Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart in practice and gets his first look there in Anaheim. Projected lineups for Sunday have the rest of the forward group shaking out like this:
| Line | Left wing | Center | Right wing |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Brady Tkachuk | Lars Eller | Sam Reinhart |
| Second | Carter Verhaeghe | Sam Bennett | Matthew Tkachuk |
| Third | Eetu Luostarinen | Anton Lundell | Sandis Vilmanis |
| Fourth | Bokondji Imama | Sam Lafferty | Garnet Hathaway |
Maurice chose to keep Sam Bennett with Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk instead of sliding Bennett or Anton Lundell up. That protects the second line, which is now arguably the team's most dangerous five-on-five unit, but it asks a veteran depth center to drive play next to two high-volume finishers. Expect Maurice to shuffle quickly if the Eller line gets hemmed in. The most logical alternatives are Bennett between Brady Tkachuk and Reinhart, or Lundell moving up while Eller drops to the third line.
Fantasy fallout
Sam Reinhart is the player most exposed. His elite finishing profile has been built alongside Barkov's puck retrieval and transition play, and Eller is not that. Reinhart remains a must-start in every format because of his shot volume and first-unit power-play role, but trim expectations for assists until the top line settles.
Brady Tkachuk is less affected than it seems. His value comes from shots, hits, net-front goals and penalty minutes, and none of that requires an elite center. Multi-category leagues should keep him locked in. He also projects to stay on the first power-play unit.
Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett get a bump. With Barkov out, the second line becomes the matchup headache for opposing coaches, and both are projected on the top power-play unit. Bennett in particular gains the most fantasy value from this injury if Florida's first unit keeps its spot.
Lars Eller is a deep-league add only. Top-line minutes for a depth center can produce a short spike, but he projects for the second power-play unit and his role could change within a week.
Anton Lundell is the speculative pickup to watch. If the Eller experiment stalls, Lundell is the most likely in-house promotion.
The power play without Barkov
Florida's power play has been a problem. The Panthers went 0-for-7 in the opener and 1-for-6 in San Jose. Projected units for Sunday look like this:
| Unit | Forwards | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| PP1 | Brady Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk | Seth Jones |
| PP2 | Lars Eller, Anton Lundell, Carter Verhaeghe | Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling |
Seth Jones running the first unit is the notable fantasy point. Defensemen with a top power-play job gain value in points leagues, and Jones is worth a look wherever he was left on waivers. If Forsling sits, watch who takes his second-unit spot, although that role carries limited fantasy value.
Betting angle
The market had Florida as a road favorite at -146, with Anaheim +122 and a total of 6.5, according to previews posted Saturday. That price is a meaningful lean toward the Panthers for a team playing its first game without its captain, its third straight road game to open the season, and possibly without its top shutdown defenseman.
Two things are worth weighing before betting it. First, Florida's scoring has been thin: four goals in two games, with the power play 1-for-13. Second, Forsling's status will not be known until warmups, so anyone betting Florida early is taking on that uncertainty. Bettors who like the Panthers here get better information by waiting for the warmup report, even if it costs a few cents of price.
Verdexed's full game projections for Sunday live at /nhl/predictions.
What to do in your league
Hold Barkov in every format with an IR slot. The minimum stay is 10 games and 24 days, and the early report is that it is not the worst-case outcome. Dropping him now is premature until Monday's evaluation.
Start Reinhart, Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk as usual. Move Bennett up your rankings for as long as he is on the top power-play unit. Add Seth Jones in points leagues where he is available. In deep leagues, Lundell is a better speculative add than Eller because his path to a bigger role is clearer.
In DFS, Florida's top stack should be built around the Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk line rather than the Eller line until Eller proves he can drive play.
What's next
Barkov's appointment Monday is the next real update, and it should replace the 10-game, 24-day placeholder with an actual timeline. Forsling's status will be clear at warmups Sunday in Anaheim. Florida's road trip continues from there, and Minnesota visits Florida on October 10, which gives the Panthers a home game against one of the early season's hottest goalies, Jesper Wallstedt.
Whatever Monday brings, Florida's offense now runs through the second line and the first power-play unit. Fantasy managers should value Panthers skaters accordingly until Barkov is back.