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Aleksander Barkov: Player Profile

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Andrew Walsh | Last updated May 6, 2026 10:52 PM ET

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Aleksander Barkov is a center who was born in Tampere, Finland, on September 2, 1995. Barkov’s father, Aleksander Barkov Sr., is a former Russian national team player. Barkov began his hockey career with Tappara of the Finnish Liiga. At 14-years-old during the 2009-10 season for Tappara, Barkov scored 26 goals and added 33 assists in 33 games during the regular season. In the Liiga playoffs, for Tappara, Barkov scored five goals and added seven assists in nine games.

After four seasons with Tappara’s under-16 team, Barkov made his way to the under-18 team. Barkov saw limited action at the under-18 level, scoring 10 goals and adding eight assists in 13 games played. A shoulder injury ended the playoffs for Barkov during the 2012-13 season. In five games played for Tappara, Barkov scored two goals and added three assists. Barkov played two seasons for Tappara’s under-20 team.

Barkov also performed well on the international hockey stage, winning the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. In two games played for Finland, Barkov scored one goal. Barkov also won a silver medal for Finland at the 2016 World Championships. Despite having plenty of NHL talent, Finland has only won four World Championships. The question for Barkov is whether he could live up to the scouting report that saw him as a premium two-way center.

Aleksander Barkov Drafted Second Overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov was drafted by the Florida Panthers with the second overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Barkov is a two-time Stanley Cup champion while playing with the Florida Panthers. The Panthers were the first team to win back-to-back Stanley Cups since the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. However, in the season to follow up, Barkov would suffer a major knee injury at the age of 30.

Barkov was named captain of the Florida Panthers before the 2018-19 season, the 10^th captain in the Panthers franchise history. Panthers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager at the time, Dale Tallon, said, “Aleksander Barkov is ready to be the captain of the Florida Panthers,” said Tallon. “He has all of the qualities of a great leader: unrivaled work ethic, wisdom beyond his years and the respect and admiration of his teammates. Aleksander’s determination and passion for the game have made him one of the NHL’s best and most complete players. The time was right for Aleksander to be named the captain of this franchise and I’m certain that he will bring the same high standard of class and dedication to the captaincy that he brings to the rink every single day.”

Aleksander Barkov Misses Entire 2025-26 NHL Season

After falling in training camp, Barkov had knee surgery to repair the ACL and MCL in his right knee. Head coach of the Panthers, Paul Maurice, was hopeful that Barkov could return to the team, but this was not to be. Barkov missed the entire 2025-26 season. The Panthers will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. Recent reports have said that the 30-year-old will be ready for the start of the Panthers’ training camp.

“It has been tough,” said Barkov. “But when something tough or bad happens, you try and find the positives. I don’t know, maybe taking a long time off here will help me in the future to come back fresher, with a fresh mind, a fresh body. Hopefully my career will last longer, I don’t know, but these are the kind of things you think about when you go through tough moments, face adversity.”

The Panthers won back-to-back Stanley Cup playoffs but have had injuries to deal with aside from Barkov’s. Forward Matthew Tkachuk was dealing with a sports hernia that caused him to miss the majority of the 2025-26 season. The amount of hockey that the team has played in the last two seasons while winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, is a large reason for these injuries. Before this, Barkov solidified himself as an elite NHL center.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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