From the draft to Game 672, reflecting on Aleksander Barkov’s Panthers career to this point

Star center and team captain Aleksander Barkov on Thursday will set the Florida Panthers’ record for games played when he skates in his 672nd game for the franchise.

It’s a moment that has been more than a decade in the making for the 28-year-old Barkov.

But how did Barkov get to this point?

Take a trip down memory lane and look through the highlights of Barkov’s journey to the Panthers’ games played milestone, from draft day to the upcoming Game 672.

June 30, 2013: The Panthers select Barkov with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Oct. 3, 2013: Barkov makes his NHL debut at 18 years, 31 days old. He scored his first NHL goal that night, cleaning up a rebound in front of the net midway through the third period in an eventual 4-2 Panthers road win over the Dallas Stars. He became the youngest player to score a goal since the 1967 NHL expansion.

Feb. 17, 2015: Barkov plays in his 100th career NHL game.

March 3, 2016: Barkov records his 100th-career point with a primary assist on an Erik Gudbranson first-period goal against the Colorado Avalanche.

Oct. 30, 2016: Barkov plays in his 200th career NHL game.

Dec. 12, 2017: Barkov records his 200th-career point with a primary assist on a Nick Bjugstad second-period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks.

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Jan. 28, 2018: Barkov takes part in his first NHL All-Star Game.

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Jan. 30, 2018: Barkov plays in his 300th career NHL game.

April 5, 2018: Barkov scores his 100th-career NHL goal, opening scoring in the Panthers’ season finale win against the Boston Bruins.

Sept. 17, 2018: Barkov is named the 10th captain in Panthers history, a recognition he called “the biggest honor I’ve ever had in my life.”

Feb. 7, 2019: Barkov records his 300th-career point with his first of two assists in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

March 10, 2019:Barkov plays in his 400th career NHL game.

June 19, 2019: Barkov wins the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, given annually to the NHL player “adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Barkov finished the 2018-19 season with 96 points (35 goals, 61 assists) while having just eight penalty minutes.

Feb. 10, 2020: Barkov records his 400th-career point with a secondary assist on a MacKenzie Weegar first-period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Feb. 20, 2020: Barkov scores his 200th-career goal in the first period against the Los Angeles Kings. He scored goal No. 201 a minute and 40 seconds later.

March 1, 2021: Barkov plays in his 500th career NHL game.

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June 18, 2021: Barkov wins his second major NHL award by claiming the Frank J. Selke Trophy, given annually to the NHL forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive aspect of the game. Barkov’s 2020-21 season saw him log 58 points (26 goals, 32 assists) in 50 games while also having a plus-minus rating of plus-12.

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Oct. 8, 2021: The Panthers sign Barkov to an eight-year contract extension, keeping him with the team through the 2029-30 season.

Nov. 9, 2021: With his second-period goal against the New Jersey Devils, Barkov set the franchise record for goals scored. That goal was No. 189, passing Olli Jokinen’s franchise record of 188 that had been in place since the end of the 2007-08 season.

Jan. 27, 2022: Barkov records his 500th-career point with a game-tying short-handed goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in the final minute of the first period.

March 31, 2022: Barkov records his franchise-record 37th game-winning goal in a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. He passed Jokinen for the record. Barkov is up to 44 total game-winning goals in his career.

Oct. 19, 2022: Barkov plays in his 600th career NHL game.

Dec. 29, 2022: Barkov records his 67th power-play goal in a five-point effort against the Montreal Canadiens to become the franchise’s all-time leader in the category. He passed Scott Mellanby for the mark.

Jan. 28, 2023: Barkov records his 600th-career point with his primary assist on Sam Reinhart’s overtime goal against the Boston Bruins — his third and final point of the game.

March 20, 2023: Barkov becomes the Panthers’ franchise points leader with a secondary assist on a Gustav Forsling second-period goal against the Detroit Red Wings.

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Monday: Barkov plays in game No. 671, tying Huberdeau for the franchise record.

Thursday: Barkov will set the franchise record for games played.