Gruesome details on Aleksander Barkov’s injury revealed right after Stanley Cup win

Right after hoisting the Stanley Cup for the second time in two years, Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk revealed the significant injuries he was playing through, after tearing his adductor off the bone and dealing with some hernia thing, all on the same side after the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. He however managed to return for Game 1 of the first round versus the Tampa Bay Lightning and finished the postseason with eight goals and 23 points in all 23 of Florida’s games, including seven points in the six-game Cup Final versus the Edmonton Oilers.

But Tkachuk was not the only one dealing with injuries and head coach Paul Maurice provided some gruesome details on captain Aleksander Barkov’s ailment throughout the postseason.

The poor guy had a hand cut open in Game 1, sutures came apart twice before it was glued shut.

Maurice, who also called Tkachuk’ injuries a mess before he recovered in time for the postseason, revealed how Sam Reinhart had Grade 2 MCL strain, though he still managed to record four goals in the 5-1 win over the Oilers before skating around with the Stanley Cup above his head.

Players are obviously banged up after a long playoff run, but you have to believe that for Barkov, Reinhart and Tkachuk, the pain and suffering was all worth it.