2025-26 NHL Futures: Panthers’ Stanley Cup odds drop with Barkov injury

The Florida Panthers have won back-to-back Stanley Cups, but there quest for a three-peat will likely come without their captain after Aleksander Barkov underwent surgery for a serious knee injury.

Here’s what you need to know.

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Barkov injury

Barkov suffered the devastating injury in the first practice of training camp. His is expected to miss seven to nine months after undergoing surgery to repairs tears to the ACL and MCL in his right knee.

That timeline suggests his return could come anywhere from the start of playoffs or possibly not until next season.

It’s important to note, with the new LTIR and playoff salary cap rules, Florida must declare Barkov out of the entire regular season and playoffs if they want to use his full $10 million cap hit to pick up other players.

Stanley Cup odds drop

There’s been significant movement on the Stanley Cup odds following Barkov’s injury.

The Panthers opened at +700 to win the Stanley Cup, trailing only Edmonton at +650. That line shifted, making Florida a +600 Cup favourite heading into training camp before the Barkov injury.

However, following the Barkov injury, the Panthers are tied with Dallas for the fifth-shortest Cup odds at +1000. Florida now trails the Avalanche (+800), Golden Knights (+800), Hurricanes (+850) and Oilers (+850).

Stanley Cup trends

• There have been three repeat Cup winners since 2010 (Pittsburgh in 2016, 2017, Tampa Bay in 2020, 2021 and Florida in 2024, 2025).
• No team has won three straight Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders dynasty that won four Cups between 1980 and 1983.
• Since 2010, only five teams with pre-season odds greater than +1000 have gone on to win the Stanley Cup.
• The Eastern Conference has won seven of the last 10 Stanley Cups.
• The Presidents’ Trophy winner has gone on the win the Stanley Cup just eight times in the 35 years since both awards have been handed out.

Last 10 Stanley Cup champions