Panthers GM Bill Zito Sends Honest Message to Team Post Aleksander Barkov’s Tough Injury Reveal: ‘It’s a Fight’

Ever since Aleksander Barkov was named the Florida Panthers’ captain in 2018, the Cats haven’t missed a single postseason. Many, including the NHL franchise’s general manager, Bill Zito, believe that it was the Finnish star’s leadership that helped to bring about the change. “The core of this group is a function of our best players, our stars, and it starts with Sasha,” Zito said earlier this year, as the Panthers stood on the edge of lifting their second-straight Stanley Cup. And now, as the three-peat looks like a towering challenge, the GM comes clean on what the boys need to do.

Last Thursday, the back-to-back Selke trophy winner was carried off the ice after a collision with teammate Niko Mikkola during a practice session. It was later revealed that Aleksander Barkov had sustained MCL and ACL injuries and would be out of action for 7 to 9 months. Gruesome news, even before the 2025-26 season started. Under such circumstances, Zito can only hope for the best.

On Saturday, the reigning champs’ general manager talked to reporters about the road ahead and the leadership situation inside the locker room. On being asked if Barkov’s injury could work as a “rallying cry” for the team, Zito said, “Yeah, I hope that it will be, and it’s going to be, everybody’s going to have to do a little bit different.” He went on to reveal further how head coach Paul Maurice is taking the opportunity to inject some extra motivation into his players.

“Paul had a great point that he made in a conversation. He said, ‘Look, you can’t replace this guy. So we have to do things differently,’” Zito said about how the coach is looking at the situation at hand. Aleksander Barkov posted 16 points in 23 playoff matches last season, once again showing why he’s one of the best defensive forwards in the league, and it’s understandable that Zito & Co. believe it will take a lot to fill his void if the Panthers wish to retain the Lord Stanley Cup in Miami.

“We’re going to have to figure out ways for all of us to be better, myself included, and it’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be a battle, we’re going to have to scratch and claw,” Zito went on about how steep the imminent climb looks for the players as well as the management.

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