Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is set to return to the lineup after missing eight games due to a lower-body injury sustained on October 10th against the Ottawa Senators. Coach Paul Maurice confirmed Barkov's likely return for Monday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, just ahead of the NHL Global Series games in his hometown of Tampere, Finland. Despite his absence, the Panthers have performed well, maintaining a 6-3-1 record and leading the Atlantic Division. Barkov, a key player in the Panthers' Stanley Cup victory, has been practicing intensively and is expected to enhance the team's performance with his defensive prowess. The Panthers will also see the return of Tomas Nosek for the Global Series, further strengthening their roster. The Global Series aims to showcase European talent, with Barkov and Dallas Stars' Miro Heiskanen playing prominent roles.