Aleksander Barkov update coming out of Florida: Seth Jones update much more promising

A recent clip from the team practice facility offered a small glimmer of hope. Beat reporter David Dwork noted the two are skating, but actual game action is not imminent in either case.

Jones is definitively the closer of the duo, per Dwork. The veteran defenseman could join regular practices in a non-contact jersey as early as next week.

Barkov remains a different story entirely. His surgically repaired knee requires extensive, tedious rehab, keeping the captain sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Missing a blueliner who averages 23:29 of ice time per night hurts the structure. Jones was anchoring the penalty kill before going down in Miami.

The absence of Barkov strips massive offensive output from the top six. Florida relies on his elite transition game to dictate the pace of the power play. The hole created by the Barkov injury is one that cannot be filled, as elite two-way centermen with his unique skill set come once every 10-15 years.

The weekend video highlighted both men doing private on-ice work alongside skills coach Max Ivanov. It is a slow and highly controlled process right now.

Before his collarbone injury, Jones racked up 24 points across 40 games. Finding a replacement for that level of defensive scoring is nearly impossible.

Barkov might have been held scoreless in his final game before the surgery, but his overall impact is irreplaceable. He tilts the ice every single shift.

Maurice knows the locker room is desperate to get their leaders back. The medical staff simply refuses to rush the recovery timeline for either player.

The focus right now is just getting their legs under them. Ivanov is running them through basic edge work and crisp passing drills to keep them engaged.

Florida is currently battling to maintain their positioning in a crowded Atlantic Division. Surviving this brutal stretch without their top center is a massive challenge.

Career-wise, Barkov and Jones have both shown an ability to bounce back fast from physical setbacks. That track record provides some comfort for the coaching staff.

Do not expect to see number 16 anytime soon. The captain has many more hours of lonely rehab ahead of him.

Expect Jones to hit the ice for real first. Until that happens, the rest of the roster just has to keep grinding out points.