Images of Aleksander Barkov hoisting the Stanley Cup are scattered all over the Florida Panthers’ team facility. It’s the ultimate reminder of the last two championship seasons: the team captain being the first one to lift hockey’s chalice.

Now, the Panthers face perhaps the ultimate challenge: Doing it again — without Barkov.

The Panthers were the consensus favorite to win the Stanley Cup a week ago; their odds are now behind about a half-dozen teams, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, now that Barkov is expected to miss seven to nine months because of tears to the ACL and MCL in his right knee. That timeline basically means the entirety of the regular season and maybe the entirety of the playoffs as well.

And just like that, a back-to-back champion is certain to be doubted. That may be a

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