Florida Panthers captain Sasha Barkov returned to practice after missing several days with an illness. Thursday night when the Florida Panthers take the ice at Little Caesars Arena, it will be a special night for team captain Aleksander Barkov. Barkov, who has been with the organization since he was drafted second overall by Florida at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, will be suiting up in his 672nd game with the franchise. “The Florida Panthers are proud to select from Tampere, Finland: Aleksander Barkov.” Those were the words from then-General Manager Dale Tallon from the Prudential Center podium in New Jersey back on June 30, 2013. Barkov had 21 goals and 48 points in 53 games for Tampereen Tappara of the Finnish Elite League at age 17. The Panthers went 15-27-6 in the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, a year after breaking their 11-year playoff drought the previous year. Despite having the worst record in the league, they did not win the NHL Draft Lottery. However, getting the left-handed center out of Finland who can play in all three zones while having a Selke Trophy to his name is a pick to feel satisfied with. The Colorado Avalanche would win the lottery and draft Nathan MacKinnon from the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. They’re probably pleased with that selection, too. From the time that Barkov scored his first ever goal with the franchise on Oct. 3, 2013 on the road against the Dallas Stars to now, he has been the example of how to lead on the ice, in locker room and everywhere else away from the rink. Barkov spent five seasons with the franchise before being named the captain of the team. South Florida saw him grow on the ice. Barkov was part of the team's young core, having two Calder Trophy winning teammates in forward Jonathan Huberdeau (who won in 2013) and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (2015). During that time, Barkov also learned under eventual Hockey Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr and current Hall of Fame goaltender Roberto Luongo. Although Barkov has been through coaching changes, as well as to the front office, there is no question in the effort that was put into creating a development path into the now captain of the team. On Sept. 17, 2018, he was named the 10th captain in team history. Barkov was also, at the time, the youngest player to ever be named captain for the Panthers. He has had the “C” on his sweater for the past six seasons, which is the longest any player has held the captaincy. With his current contract not ending until the 2030 offseason, it’s going to be difficult for any future captain to break that record. At the contract’s conclusion, it will be 12 seasons. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] After getting the captaincy, Barkov only got better, posting a career best season in points with 96 (35 goals and 61 assists) in the 2018-19 season, which he also won the Lady Byng Award. In the 56-game COVID-shortened season, Barkov came away with the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the best two-way forward in the league. Off the ice, he has a partnership with Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/florida-panthers-captain-sasha-barkov-continuing-partnership-with-joe-dimaggio-childrens-hospital-for-fifth-season] where he donates $1600 for every goal and $800 for every assist, an initiative that dates back in 2019. Prior to this season, he has donated a total of $313,600. He also a suite available for the hospital’s use at every Panthers home game at Amerant Bank Arena. Barkov has a multitude of records that does not even include what is his soon-to-be 672nd game. He has the Panthers franchise record for most points, total goals, power play goals, game-winning goals, even strength goals, face-off wins, and plus/minus rating. There are still a few records that the captain has yet to break. They include short-handed goals, where he is five goals away from breaking Radek Dvorak’s record of 16 and short-handed assists, where he is just three away from passing the three-way tie of Robert Svehla, Bill Lindsay and Derek MacKenzie with seven. At puck drop for opening night of the 2024-25 season, Barkov will have the most seasons played with the Panthers at 12, passing Stephen Weiss. If the 672nd game of Barkov’s career is one thing, it is a byproduct of the work on and off the ice, and even in how he leads the team in the locker room. “It’s incredibly impressive at his age to reach certain milestones for a franchise that’s been around for 30 years,” Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice after the team’s morning skate on Monday in Boston. “He wasn’t feeling great, but still drives as hard as he can and sets that tone, and also sets the tone in terms of how you treat people and how you treat your teammates. The games played is a number for him, but his real impact is days lived at the rink, the way we practice, the way we train, the belief that when you come to the rink, you have a chance to win because you have a player like that leading your team.” Maurice was not only impressed with the career accolades that Barkov already possesses at age 28, but confident that Barkov’s jersey No. 16 will be up in the rafters at Amerant Bank Arena one day. Maurice also put himself in the shoes of parents taking their children to see Barkov at Panthers games. “If you have young kids and you’re buying a sweater and you wonder, pro athletes are humans, I'd buy a Barkov sweater,” he said. “You would be very comfortable putting your kid in a Barkov sweater. That’s a good man to emulate.” A captain in Barkov who treats people as well as Maurice says he does makes it a welcoming environment in South Florida as the Panthers continue to build off their four straight playoff appearances. Those four years include a Presidents’ Trophy in the 2021-22 season, breaking a 26-year drought of not advancing past the first round, and reaching the Stanley Cup Final in the 2022-23 season. With Barkov’s leadership, and now having forward Matthew Tkachuk in the mix for his second year with the team, Florida is hoping to continue their goal of winning the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup. Drafting Barkov second overall in 2013, while seeing him grow into the heart and soul of the team are major building blocks as the team hopes to one day achieve their ultimate goal. 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