With Tkachuk Already Out Leafs' Atlantic Division Rival May Also Lose Captain For Entire Season

The season has not yet begun, but it might already be over for the Florida Panthers after captain Aleksander Barkov went down with a lower body ailment in training camp, which has resulted in what the Panthers have deemed a serious injury.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice addressed the media on Friday, confirming that Barkov is currently undergoing surgery, and while an official report on his timeline for recovery is still a day or two away, it is feared that he could be done for the season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Panthers are coming off of back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, and with Matthew Tkachuk already having undergone surgery as well, there are legitimate concerns that the Panthers will not be able to compete for a 3rd straight Stanley Cup this season.

Nobody likes to see a player get injured, especially during training camp. Barkov is not only a difference-maker for the Panthers, but you can make an argument that the captain is their best player.

If Barkov and Tkachuk do indeed miss most of or all of this season, it does create a unique opportunity for the Maple Leafs to be able to potentially repeat as Atlantic Division champs, which would set them up, once again, with home ice through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Of course, we can't write off the Panthers entirely, as they still possess a lot of talent, with the likes of Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brad Marchand and Sergei Bobrovsky among the team's top remaining stars.