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Aleksander Barkov will be out of action for the next few days due to a knee injury, according to Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. He suffered the injury during the Panthers’ Friday evening game against the Anaheim Ducks. They won the game 2-1 and improved to a 11-5-1 record on the season. Knee injuries are always tricky so the team will play it safe and hope Barkov can be back in the lineup safely as soon as possible.
Barkov played nearly 13 minutes that game but had to leave early in the third period after a knee-on-knee collision with Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe. He had two shots on goal and a 50% faceoff percentage during that game.
Barkov has played 16 games this year and has modest numbers for a player of his stature. So far, he scored six goals and 17 points, tied for second on the Panthers in points along with Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers captain also has a +14 rating on the season, which tied him for first place in the league in that category.
After the Panthers made a surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, many expected them to take a step back. After all, they only made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth with 92 points last year. So far, they have done the opposite. They currently sit in second place in the Atlantic Division and are in a good position to make the playoffs again this season, this time by a better margin.
The Panthers are set to play the Edmonton Oilers on Monday evening, and it would be fair to assume that Barkov will not play in that game. He could be back as early as the Panthers’ Wednesday game against the Boston Bruins.
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An $18M Gamble That Could Pay Off Big for Edmonton
The Edmonton Oilers are facing a pivotal decision in goal — one that could define their playoff strategy for 2026 and potentially set them up in the years to come. Stuart Skinner, who has quietly backstopped the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, is entering the final season of his $2.6 million deal. And with the salary cap projected to climb significantly, the time to strike might be now. This argument won’t go over well with many Oilers fans. Specifically, those who believe Edmonton needs an upgrade in goal aren’t going to like the idea of investing in Skinner for a sizeable amount of money. Frankly, it’s hard to blame those skeptics; Skinner’s numbers won’t land him in the Vezina conversation. That said, his consistency has been good enough to keep Edmonton in contention, and if he has a solid 2025-26 season, you can bet the Oilers are going to wind up paying to keep him. When the Oilers’ defense holds up, Skinner performs as well as most mid-tier starters across the league. Under new goalie coach Peter Aubry, there’s optimism that Skinner could add another layer to his game — and if that happens, his price tag could soar. Goalie Deals, Like What’s Coming For Skinner, Aren’t Getting Cheaper League-wide trends suggest goalie deals aren’t getting cheaper. Locking Skinner in for something in the range of three years at $6 million per season could give the Oilers cost certainty and valuable cap flexibility. Comparable netminders like Logan Thompson, Tristan Jarry, and Darcy Kuemper already sit in that range, and Edmonton could find itself with a bargain if Skinner continues to grow. Lukas Dostal just signed on with the Ducks for five more years at $6.5 million per season, in what many are calling a bargain extension. The benefit isn’t just about saving money. A team-friendly deal keeps Skinner movable if things go sideways. Waiting comes with risk. A breakout season from Skinner would make negotiations far more expensive — especially in a market where quality goaltending is scarce. For a team operating in a tight Cup window, overpaying later could mean losing depth elsewhere. Is Skinner the Long-Term Answer Or Yesterday’s News? If the Oilers aren’t sold on Skinner, investing further in him isn’t the right play. But, if they believe he’s got the tools to rebound, buying low (or at least, lower) isn’t the worst idea. He’s experienced, and Edmonton has taken the time and shown patience to see him flourish. “I think going through it the first time, you go through that experience in the summer and then you realize the things you did well and the things you didn’t do well,” Skinner said to NHL.com’s Derek Van Diest. “So going through it a second time, but being able to say you went through this does help you get over it quicker, just because you have to go back into training and do it all over again.” Maybe the lows have shown themselves, and the highs could be around the corner. Moreover, one could argue the decision is less about whether Skinner is the long-term answer in net and more about innovative asset management. Betting on him now is a calculated gamble that could pay off in a big way, especially if Edmonton believes their championship core can win with steady — if not spectacular — play between the pipes. For general manager Stan Bowman, this isn’t just about a contract; it’s about strategy. Move early, and the Oilers could secure the cost certainty they need to keep their stars together. If Skinner remains average, a $6 million goaltender is potentially a tough sell, but not an impossible one.
Steelers have major injury concern leaving preseason
The No. 1 priority for NFL teams in the preseason is to get out of the games without major injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers may have failed with that one on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers. Defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had to be carted to the locker room with a knee injury while also looking visibly upset as he was taken back. The team announced almost immediately that he would be out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin provided an update after the game: Defensive line was a top priority for the Steelers this offseason, especially after their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens where they allowed nearly 300 rushing yards to end their season. Along with Harmon, they also selected Iowa's Yahya Black in this year's class to help try to beef up their line. Harmon is expected to play a major role in this year's defense and was already in a starting position. With star defensive lineman Cameron Heyward holding in as he tries to get a new contract from the team, that puts even more importance on Harmon's ability to make an impact. He has had a strong training camp, and after a quiet first preseason game, he really took a big leap forward in the team's second game, recording a sack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Heyward returns, and if Harmon's injury is not serious, the Steelers would have the potential to have a really strong defensive line with those two joining rising star Keeanu Benton. Right now, though, those are a lot of "ifs," especially as it relates to the availability for Heyward and Harmon for the team's season opener.
Green Bay Packers: Mike Macdonald’s First Message to Matt LaFleur After Mayhem-Marred Practice
Joint practices in the NFL can be really heated. Just take for example the one involving the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, with fights erupting on the field between players from both sides. Even though it’s just a practice session with nothing significant on the line, the competitive juices of players can get in the way and spark fiery moments on the field. If anything, at least no one appears to have been seriously hurt from the multiple altercations reported. However, Packers right tackle Zach Tom was reportedly tossed out of the field after throwing punches at a couple of Seahawks players. Despite all the chaos that transpired between the Packers and the Seahawks, Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald had great things to say about Green Bay. Seahawks head coach sends message to Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers Brady Henderson of ESPN noted that Macdonald started his session with the media after the practice, “by thanking Packers coach Matt LaFleur and the organization for hosting them.” In any case, Macdonald felt good overall about his players. “It’s hard to tell what happened, who said what,” Macdonald shared. “Look, you want your guys to defend their [teammates]. There’s a line. Whether we go past the line, I don’t think we did, which is good. Our guys stayed composed. But some of these things do tend to happen, and however it gets started … hopefully it’s not our guys, but people are going to react to a certain extent. I think our guys handled it pretty well.” The Packers and the Seahawks will still see each other on the field this offseason, as they are scheduled to play in their 2025 NFL preseason finale on Saturday at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love Makes Confident Declaration After Duo Torches Seahawks
The Green Bay Packers are just around a couple of weeks away from kicking off their 2025 NFL campaign. With Jordan Love seemingly on pace to fully recover from a recent thumb surgery, hopes are high that the team will be able to have a solid start in the upcoming season. Love has a solid group of weapons for him to work with in the passing attack. Much has been said about the team’s wide receiving room, which may be lacking a true No. 1 option, but is certainly brimming with talent, especially with the continued emergence of first-round wideout Matthew Golden. But Love is also excited about the Packers’ tight ends in Tufcker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. Love fired up by Green Bay Packers tight ends’ showing during Seattle Seahawks practice After the chaotic, fight-filled joint practice session with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, Love expressed his trust and positive outlook for the said tight ends. “Definitely, I think that’s something that since they both got here and we’ve been able to see what they can do on the field,” Love said when asked if he was thrilled to see Kraft and Musgrave have great performances against the Seahawks’ defense, per Ryan Wood of USA Today. “I think that’s one thing that Matt and the guys dropped the plays and then kind of hunt for is to get them both on the field and do some pretty cool things in the pass game with them. And it obviously married all up with the run game. But the possibilities are endless for sure. “Those guys have been doing a great job in building. Tuck has done some great things on the field. And I think Luke’s having a great camp as well. Musgrave and Kraft are clearly talented options in the offense for Love, and at least one of them taking their game to the next level in 2025 should make Green Bay’s attack much deadlier. Musgrave missed several games in 2024 due to a stint on the injured reserve and only had 45 receiving yards on seven receptions and 10 targets. Kraft, on the other hand, has improved in each of his first two seasons in the league. Last season, he had 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 50 catches and 70 targets.
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