NHL Notebook: Aleksander Barkov to have knee surgery, Connor Ingram clears waivers

There’s some big injury news out of Florida, as Aleksander Barkov will undergo knee surgery and could be out for the remainder of the season.

The play happened during a Panthers’ practice on Wednesday, as the Finnish captain took a fairly innocuous fall. However, he needed help to reach the bench, and it looked bad almost immediately. Assuming Barkov is out for the season, the Panthers will have $10 million in cap space to add, or $3.8 million if he returns.

Regardless of whether the Panthers can add $3.8 million or $10 million, it’s a big loss for the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. In 2024-25, Barkov scored 20 goals and 71 points in 67 games, as well as six goals and 22 points in 23 playoff games. He was even better the season before, finishing with 23 goals and 57 points in 80 games. This is on top of being the best two-way centre in the league.

David Reinbacher is out for a month

On Friday, it was announced by the Montréal Canadiens that defence prospect David Reinbacher will be out for four weeks due to a broken metacarpal bone in the hand.

He was injured in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Similarly, he missed most of the 2024-25 season due to a knee injury suffered in a pre-season game against the Maple Leafs in September 2024.

The Austrian defenceman was selected fifth overall in the 2023 draft. Since coming to North America in 2023-24, Reinbacher has played just 21 regular-season games with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League. Most of his action came in the Rockets’ postseason push, scoring two goals and six points in 13 playoff games.

Maple Leafs sign James Reimer to a professional tryout

On Friday, it was reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed netminder James Reimer to a professional tryout.

The 37-year-old Morweena, Manitoba native began his career with the Maple Leafs, as they drafted him 99th overall in the 2006 draft. His first NHL season was in 2010-11, spending six seasons with them, before being traded to the San Jose Sharks. Reimer reached the Stanley Cup Finals with the Sharks in 2016, but began the journeyman portion of his career.

Over the course of his 15-season career, Reimer has played for the Leafs and Sharks, as well as the Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Detroit Red Wings, the Buffalo Sabres, and the Anaheim Ducks.

Reimer was just one of a handful of remaining netminders available in free agency.

Connor Ingram clears waivers

It was reported on Friday that Utah Mammoth netminder Connor Ingram has cleared waivers and will begin the 2025-26 season on waivers.