Barkov returns to Finland squad for World Championship after missing NHL season

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barkov-aleksander/KCA1r9X3/"]Barkov[/a] sustained an injury to his knee ligaments in training with his club team, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/florida-panthers/fc1eq8Pp/"]Florida Panthers[/a], back in September and was expected to be out for between seven and nine months. [/p][p]Following a return to light training in January, the 30-year-old forward has declared himself fit to play at the tournament, which runs from 15th-30th May.[/p][p]The Tampere native is set to end a decade in the international wilderness, having featured at the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2016 World Championship, he last pulled on a Leijonat jersey at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.[/p][p][b]"Representing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/finland/rRWMzYQu/"]Finland[/a] has always been an honour for me. It's great to be able to play and travel with Leijonat,"[/b] Barkov announced.[/p][p]Despite his lack of match sharpness, there were no ill-feeling from the Panthers organisation regarding his participation: [b]"If a hockey player wants to play hockey, that's a good thing,"[/b] said the team's general manager, Bill Zito.[/p][embed guid="d601235b-8081-43a9-a9b6-2505f4a5ddcc" url="https://x.com/leijonat/status/2044797103793148409" social-type="twitter" /][p]At the 2026 World Championship, Finland will play their Group A games in Zurich, and set to join Barkov will be his compatriot and fellow Panthers forward, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lundell-anton/zTGkWBJP/"]Anton Lundell[/a]. Head coach Antti Pennanen was certainly pleased to have both players at his disposal.[/p][p][b]"Barkov brings world-class leadership, experience and skills. As a valued player and well-liked person, he brings a lot of good to the team. It's great that he definitely wanted to come to the World Championship, despite his long injury lay-off,"[/b] said the coach.[/p][p][b]"He is an intelligent and versatile player, an excellent addition to our attack,"[/b] Pennanen added, regarding Lundell.[/p][p]The latest addition to the Lions' line-up is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-rangers/O4zxeyWN/"]New York Rangers[/a] defenceman, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vaakanainen-urho/EH4fomA1/"]Urho Vaakanainen[/a].[/p][p]The full squads are still to be announced. Finland begin their campaign against Germany on 15th May, before facing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hungary/fBiWomPG/"]Hungary[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/GYgp4SO3/"]United States[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/latvia/44JaYkQ4/"]Latvia[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/great-britain/C2UJnT9A/"]Great Britain[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/xWM7kVPi/"]Austria[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/buO3jBAo/"]Switzerland[/a] for a place in the quarter-finals.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/hockey/world/world-championship/"]Follow the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]