Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov becomes first Finnish captain to win Stanley Cup
The Florida Panthers made history Monday night, winning their first Stanley Cup in their 30th season of existence. On the player to player side, they also accomplished some firsts.
When captain Aleksander Barkov received the Stanley Cup handoff from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, he became the first Finnish captain ever to lift the trophy.
Barkov, 28, completed an incredible wire to wire 2023-24 season. He had 80 points in 73 regular season games, taking home the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward for the second time in his career. During Florida’s run to the Final, he racked up 22 points in 24 games, including four game winners. More importantly, Barkov was a crucial play driver in Florida’s run, with the Panthers outscoring opponents 14-10 and generating 59.67 percent of the 5-on-5 scoring chances with him on the ice despite the fact his line was consistently battling their opponents’ top forwards.
Barkov is on his way to building a legacy as an all-time great Finn alongside the likes of Jari Kurri and Teemu Selanne. Barkov’s 711 points already rank fifth in NHL history among Finnish players, and his 0.965 points per game rank him fourth all-time among Finnish NHLers. He sits eighth in playoff points among Finns.
The Hockey Hall of Fame will announce its Class of 2024 on Tuesday and, down the road, we’re likely looking at a Hall of Fame induction for Barkov, too. Eleven seasons after the Panthers drafted him second overall in 2013, his resume includes a Cup, two Selkes and two All-Star Game appearances. Health permitting, he’s poised to easily reach the 1,000 point mark someday as well.
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