He assisted on Panthers teammate Anton Lundell’s power-play purpose at 8:33 of the primary interval, the primary purpose in a 3-1 win for Finland towards Germany.
“I feel he seemed nice,” Ludell advised the IIHF web site. “He was robust, he was quick, he is the ‘Barky’ I’ve seen prior to now. He is at all times in a position to amaze us, and we’re all pleased to see him again in motion once more.”
Barkov started skating in January however was not in a position to return to the lineup for Florida, which didn’t make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Panthers (40-38-4) completed seventh within the Atlantic Division.
The harm additionally brought on Barkov to overlook the 2026 Winter Olympics, after he had been chosen final June as one of many first six NHL gamers to symbolize Staff Finland. Barkov, who had two factors in three video games for Finland on the 4 Nations Face-Off final 12 months, is representing Finland at Worlds for the primary time since 2016 when he had 9 factors (three targets, six assists) in 9 video games to assist them win silver.
Final week, Barkov performed for Finland towards Switzerland within the Euro Hockey Tour, a tune-up for the World Championships, however the final aggressive recreation he performed was on June 17, 2025, when Florida defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 to win its second straight Stanley Cup championship. He had two assists within the recreation.
Through the 2025 playoffs, Barkov was tied for fourth on the workforce with 22 factors (six targets, 16 assists) in 23 video games, was tied for fifth in blocks with 24, and he led the NHL in face-offs taken (446) and was second in face-off share (58.3; minimal 100 attracts).
He ranked second on the Panthers with 71 factors (20 targets, 51 assists) in 67 video games final season. He was additionally second on the workforce in power-play factors (28), short-handed factors (4) and takeaways (34), and led the workforce in face-offs taken (1,026) and face-off share (56.5).
After the season, Barkov was awarded the Selke Trophy, which is given to the most effective defensive ahead within the NHL, for the third time in his profession (2023-24, 2020-21).
Chosen by Florida with the No. 2 decide within the 2013 NHL Draft, Barkov ranks first in Florida’s historical past in targets (286), assists (496), factors (782), power-play targets, (84), power-play factors (243) and short-handed factors (23). He additionally ranks first of their playoff historical past in assists (56) and factors (81).
Barkov was named captain on Sept. 17, 2018, and fewer than six years later, when the Panthers received their first championship by defeating the Oilers 2-1 in Recreation 7 of the 2024 Ultimate, he grew to become the primary Finland-born captain in NHL historical past to win the Stanley Cup.