Pressure Point: Panthers pairing of Brady Tkachuk with Barkov loaded with potential

Much of the talk about the Florida Panthers opening training camp this week centers around the Tkachuk brothers.

Rightfully so. The trade that brought Brady Tkachuk to join brother Matthew in South Florida was one of the biggest moves of the offseason in the NHL.

While Brady Tkachuk’s first team practice was highly anticipated, there was a more eagerly awaited presence Thursday at the Baptist Health IcePlex.

Sasha Barkov is finally back at 100 percent and ready to resume leadership that led to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances including back-to-back titles.

It was within the first 20 minutes of the first practice last September that the captain took a seemingly innocuous tumble which doomed the Panthers’ season from the start. The injury to Barkov’s right knee, which required reconstructive surgery, was the first of an uncanny string of injuries that resulted in the defending champions missing the playoffs.

While Brady Tkachuk – former captain of the Ottawa Senators – is a major addition, Panthers ambitions revolve around Barkov.

Healthy Barkov fuels Panthers’ ambitions

Seeing his wall-to-wall smile at the podium on media day, and leading a rush with Brady Tkachuk on one wing in the initial practice, immediately shoved the sour memory of last season farther into the past.

“We all know who Barky is and what he can do on the ice,” defenseman Aaron Eckblad said.

“He makes you a better coach, so I missed being able to call his name,” Paul Maurice said.

Any concerns about a long-term effect of Barkov’s injury were erased when he led his native Finland to the IIHF world championship this past spring.

The intrigue now is about how Brady Tkachuk will meld into the first line with Barkov and sharpshooter Sam Reinhart.

Maurice anticipates Brady’s abilities benefiting Barkov, a three-time Selke Trophy winner as the league’s best defensive forward.

Brady Tkachuk’s presence could boost Barkov

“It could be great for Sasha, [skating with another] big man that can control the puck,” Maurice said on media day. “He’s never actually played with a big man that could control the puck; he’s played with speed.

“So, between two big guys that you can’t get the puck off easily, and [Reinhart] who can find the hole and shoot the puck, [it] could be really good.”

Maurice, meanwhile, fired off a quip heard round the NHL regarding why he is not eager to match the Tkachuk brothers on the same line.

Riffing off the rough-and-tumble reputation of the Tkachuks, the coach said, “I don’t want to give everybody what they want with the two Tkachuk brothers together with Sam Bennett in the middle. They’ll be in jail before the puck drops.”

An indication of how the new-look Panthers will fare with a Tkachuk brother on each of the top two lines will come soon enough in games that count.

Due to the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement, the preseason will be limited to two weeks and four preseason games. The Panthers will open the regular season at the Stanley Cup defending champion Carolina Hurricanes on Sept. 29.

Bobrovsky’s departure creates void for Panthers

Brady Tkachuk appeared all business in his media session following the first practice with his new team.

“I mean, I was definitely really nervous. I’m not going to lie to you. A lot of nervous energy,” he said. “It’s a short camp, so every moment means so much. I thought that was a great first day. Everyone pushed themselves to the limits and pushed the guys around them.”

After taking their lumps last season, there is more eagerness about the start of the season than has been evident from the Panthers in recent years.

Thanks to an extended offseason, they go into camp as a mostly healthy team. The notable exceptions are forwards Brad Marchand, who had surgery for a lower-body injury and will be out at least through October, Maurice said, and Jonah Gadjovich, who remains out indefinitely since surgery in November 2025.

“I’m excited about the regular season this year, and I haven’t said that for three or four years,” Maurice said. “I can’t imagine how much different it is for the players to actually be excited about a game in November. We haven’t felt that way in a long time.”

While the Panthers gained a Tkachuk, the notable departure of veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was also significant.

That is one reason the Panthers are ranked only 10th in the NHL power rankings by Sportsnet, which stated: “So much of this season for the Cats will come down to how Jacob Markstrom fares as Sergei Bobrovsky’s replacement.”

That means that for the first time in a few years the Panthers are cast in an underdog role. Perhaps they will have a chance to sneak up on some teams, at least initially.

“Just look what’s happened in the East,” Maurice said. “There’s a whole bunch of Stanley Cup champions coming out of the East over the last 10 years. A whole bunch of teams got better over the summer.

“So, it’s on.”

Fan Fest set for Saturday

Public viewing sessions of the Panthers training camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale are:

Friday, Sept. 18 – Free and open to the public: Group 1 on ice at 10 a.m.; Group 2 at 1 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19 – Training Camp Fan Fest Presented by Baptist Health:

Group 1 at 10 a.m., Group 2 at 1 p.m.

Preseason schedule

Sept. 20 vs. Carolina at Amerant Bank Arena, 7 p.m.

The Florida Panthers home preseason game schedule is as follows:

Sept. 22 at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 vs. Tampa Bay at Amerant Bank Arena, 6 p.m.

TV: South Florida Scripps stations will broadcast all four of the Panthers preseason contests.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Florida Panthers, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.