Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has committed to playing for Finland at the World Hockey Championships in May after he missed the 2025-26 campaign due to injury.
Barkov, 30, missed the entire season after sustaining injuries to both his ACL and BCL.
The 6-foot-3 centre last appeared during the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs where he captained the Panthers to their second of back-to-back championships, recording six goals and 22 points in 23 games.
He also had 20 goals and 71 points in 67 games to help the Panthers to a 47-31-4 record to finish third in the Atlantic Division in 2024-25.
Barkov and the Panthers played a lot of hockey over the last four seasons after making three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances from 2023 to 2025 and winning the Cup in 2024 and 2025.
Without Barkov, the Panthers finished seventh in the Atlantic Division this season with a 40-38-4 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.
Barkov is also a three-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defensive forward, winning the trophy in back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025.
The Tampere, Finland, native represented his country five times at the senir level, including winning bronze at The Winter Olympics in 2014. He represented Finland twice at the World Hockey Championships, taking home silver in 2016.
Barkov was slated to represent Finland at The Winter Olympics in Italy earlier this year but was unable to participate due to injuries. He also represented his country at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, and at the World Juniors in 2013.
Finland will be a part of Group A at this year’s World Hockey Championships in Switzerland, joining the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, and Great Britain.
The Finns begin their tournament on against Germany on May 15 and are looking for their first gold medal since 2022.
Lundell joins Barkov
Additionally, Panthers forward Anton Lundell will represent Finland at this year’s edition of the World Hockey Championships.
The 6-foot-1 centre recorded 18 goals and 44 points in 64 games with the Panthers this season.
Like Barkov, Lundell has helped the Panthers to the last three Stanley Cup Finals and winning back-to-back championships.
Lundell represented Finland at the Milano Cortina 2026, taking home a bronze medal. He also represented his country at the 2021 World Hockey Championships, winning silver.
The Espoo, Finland, native represented Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off last season in a fourth-place finish.
