‘He’s a legend’: Aleksander Barkov’s legacy still growing as he nears another Panthers record

When Aleksander Barkov’s career with the Florida Panthers began, when he was selected second overall in the 2013 NHL Draft as a quiet yet uber-talented two-way center out of Finland, he never thought he would talking about a moment like this.

He was 17 years old at the time, all he thought about at that time was getting his firsts out of the way.

“First contract, first training camp, first NHL game,” Barkov said.

Now, Barkov is associated with so many Panthers firsts in a different sense as his name fills the team’s record book.

And when he steps on the ice Thursday for the Panthers’ road game against the Detroit Red Wings, he’ll etch his name at the top of yet another category.

Thursday will be Barkov’s 672nd NHL game — all with the Panthers. It will move him past former teammate and good friend Jonathan Huberdeau for most games played in franchise history

As he prepares to ring in the milestone, Barkov took a moment to reflect on how far he has come.

“It’s my 11th season,” Barkov said last week, “and it feels like it’s been two weeks. ... It’s been a huge honor and privilege to be a Panther for such a long time and hopefully for many more years.”

Barkov is definitely set up for that to be the case. He just turned 28 two months ago and is under contract through the 2029-2030 season.

He has already established himself as one of the most prominent players in franchise history yet there is still so much more he can accomplish.

Make no mistake about it: Aleksander Barkov’s legacy with the Florida Panthers is all but cemented.

The only question now is how much more can he accomplish.

“It would be impressive if he was 35,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, “but it’s incredibly impressive at his age to reach milestones for a franchise that’s been around for 30 years. It just tells you the impact that he’s had on this team and on hockey.”

‘He’s the cornerstone’

His impact was felt — and in some cases predicted — from the start of his career.

Consider then-general manager Dale Tallon’s scouting report of Barkov when he was drafted.

“He’s big, strong, creative and can play in all three zones,” Tallon said. “He makes other players around him better. He has great vision, great hands. He’s a rare commodity, a big center with skill.”

That description has lived up to the billing, and it’s why the Panthers have made him such a focal point to their long-term plan from the start. They knew they had a potential superstar on their hands, even if Barkov was the type of superstar that would rather have his success go unnoticed. He wasn’t a rah-rah leader — even now he’s still building that part of his game.

But get a puck on his stick, and he’ll make magic happen.

“Barky’s Barky,” center Anton Lundell said. “He’s one of the best players in the league. Just to be around and every day is pretty, pretty awesome to see. Some stuff he does out there is impressive. He always comes up with something new that he wants to get better. He’s not satisfied where he is. I mean every day his passion is just something I have probably never seen before.”

That passion, drive and skill has Barkov’s name all over the Panthers’ record books.

In addition to claiming the games played record on Thursday, Barkov has the franchise marks for points (639), goals (245), power-play goals (70) and game-winning goals (44). He’s closing in on the team marks for assists (his 394 are 21 shy of Huberdeau’s record of 415), power-play points (his 187 are three shy of Huberdeau’s 190) and shorthanded goals (his 12 are four shy of Radek Dvorak’s 16). He’s a two-time All-Star and two-time NHL Award recipient, winning the Lady Byng Trophy (most productive player while taking minimal penalties) in 2019 and the Selke Trophy (best two-way forward) in 2021.

It’s why the Panthers wanted him to stay in South Florida for the duration of his career. And it’s why they handed him an eight-year, $80 million contract extension ahead of the 2021-22 season.

“He’s the cornerstone that we build around,” general manager Bill Zito said.

In reality, though, Barkov didn’t want to go anywhere else.

“I’m going to be here for a long time,” Barkov said at the time of his contract extension. “Being in the organization that drafted me and gave me a chance to play here, developed me into the player and human being I am right now is a huge thing for me.”

‘So humble for how good he is’

While Barkov gets lauded for his on-ice talents, perhaps one of his biggest assets is actually everything that happens behind the scenes.

There’s his work ethic and his practice regiment, yes. But there’s also the personal side of Barkov the teammate, Barkov the friend.

“He also sets the tone in how you treat people and treat your teammates,” Maurice said.

Take Barkov’s relationship with Lundell for example. Lundell found himself in a similar situation as Barkov to start his career — first-round pick as a teenager, moving to a new country to begin his career.

So what did Barkov do? He took Lundell in as a roommate in his Boca Raton home for the newcomer’s first few months so that he could get acclimated to his new environment.

“Just moving over from little Finland over to big America and to Florida, coming here for the first time, he helped me get on track here,” Lundell said. “I didn’t know what I should have been doing when I got here. Everything was new. Everything was weird. There was so many small things I didn’t know about. He helped me a lot with that that made me feel home right away.”

And then look at his philanthropic work. Barkov has partnered with the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood since the start of the 2019-2020 season, donating $1,600 for each goal he scores and $800 for every assist. That has amounted to $313,600 donated to the hospital the past four years. Barkov also provides a suite at each Panthers home game for those affiliated with the hospital.

These attributes in addition to his skill played a factor in Barkov being named the franchise’s 10th captain ahead of the 2018-19 season, a recognition Barkov called “probably the biggest honor I’ve ever had in my life.”

“Hopefully,” Barkov said then, “somebody will look up to me and work as hard as I do and look at the game like I do.”

He has had that impact on his teammates. He has become more vocal even if that’s still a last resort for him. His dry humor, sarcasm and witty zingers that once caught teammates by surprise in the dressing room are now more commonplace.

And he still focuses on all the little details that got him to where he is now.

“Everyone sees his work ethic and the way he plays the right way,” center Sam Bennett said. “If you want to have success, honestly, that’s a guy that you can definitely follow.”

Added star winger Matthew Tkachuk: “He’s gotten — I wouldn’t say gotten very outgoing, but he’s got a hilarious personality. We’re seeing that a lot more. I see it that much more. Just getting to know him — what he does on the ice, you guys see it’s pretty spectacular and nobody’s like him, but I’ve just been really fortunate to get to know him off the ice. He’s a super good dude.”

And former teammate Anthony Duclair, now with the San Jose Sharks: “We all know how talented of a player he is, but he’s a better person. He’s just so humble for how good he is. It’s incredible. Super happy and blessed to have been his linemate for a couple years. He made me a better player and at times the game was that much easier just because he does it all out there. He’s a legend and we love him.”

‘I’ve really loved every second here’

The legend and legacy of Aleksander Barkov isn’t complete just yet — nor does he want it to be.

“I’ve really loved every second here, my whole career,” Barkov said. “Never thought about anything else other than being here, playing here and trying to win a Stanley Cup here.”

That last part has remained elusive. Florida got the closest it ever has in Barkov’s time with the organization last season, making it to the Final after their magical run through the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes ultimately ended with loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

His opportunities to make magic happen aren’t done yet, though. He’s still in his prime, still

And he doesn’t have plans to leave anytime soon.

“If you’ve got young kids and you’re buying a sweater,” Maurice said, “I’d buy a Barkov sweater. You’d be real comfortable putting your kid in a Barkov sweater. That’s a good man.”