Highlighting Sasha Barkov, Panthers best active homegrown player: Brought to you by Upper Deck
Florida captain Sasha Barkov leads the list of Florida's homegrown talent on the team's current roster
Upper Deck - Highlighting Sasha Barkov, Panthers best active homegrown player: Brought to you by Upper DeckWhen talking about the Florida Panthers and homegrown players, the conversation usually begins with team captain Sasha Barkov.
There are a few players on the Panthers active roster who fall into the category of players who were drafted by Florida and are still around helping the team succeed.
Aaron Ekblad is a big one, selected by the Panthers first overall at the 2014 NHL Draft.
Dmitry Kulikov was also a Panthers first round pick, 14th overall back in 2009, and returned to Florida this season after spending the first seven years of his career with the Cats.
Anton Lundell and Spencer Knight are also homegrown, but at the end of the day, Barkov is at the head of the class.
The two-time Selke Trophy winner has grown into an elite NHL star that can control play at both ends of the ice.
He’s currently leading the Panthers to what he hopes is the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship.
Florida enters play on Friday needing just one win over the Edmonton Oilers to clinch the Stanley Cup, and Barkov has been one of the key resons why.
On top of the player he is on the ice, Barkov is an even better person off the ice.
He’s immersed himself in the South Florida community, including a years-long partnership with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in which Barkov donates $1,600 for every goal he scores and $800 for every assist, as well as a suite at every Panthers home game.
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