Barkov's Season-Ending Injury Sparks New Crosby Speculation

Earlier today, it was announced that Aleksander Barkov was undergoing surgery, and is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season.

And now it even opens the door to an unexpected scenario that could involve Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens.

It all started following a tweet from journalist Greg Wyshynski, who noticed how quickly the discussion shifted from the Barkov problem to a Crosby-to-the-Panthers rumor.

This comment was enough to fuel the fans. As we know, this is nothing new for them: the Sidney Crosby situation is on everyone's lips in the hockey world these days.

It's not unusual at all for major injuries to accelerate trade discussions. I really believe that could happen in this case.

The Panthers have a reputation for taking risks to stay among the NHL's top teams. Last year's acquisition of Brad Marchand is the perfect example.

I'm certain that if Kent Hughes is keeping an eye on this story, it's not just out of curiosity. We've heard multiple times that the interest is real.. and for good reason.

In my opinion, the Canadiens could very well benefit from a market that is moving much faster than expected.

For now, we don't know if all this will remain just a simple rumor or turn into a real hot story. But one thing is certain: Barkov's injury could trigger a domino effect touching several teams, and maybe even the Habs.