Florida Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov hangs out and plays with children at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. As valuable of a player as Florida Panthers captain Sasha Barkov has been for the franchise that drafted him, he's become an equally important member of the team at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. For the past four seasons, Barkov and Joe DiMaggio have partnered up for the #BarkovScores4JoeD campaign. Barkov contributes $1,600 for every goal he scores and $800 for every one of his assists, in addition to a suite at Amerant Bank Arena for every Panthers home game. On Tuesday, Barkov announced that the partnership would continue for the 2023-24 season while presenting the hospital with a check for $97,600. That amount accounts for the 23 goals and 55 assists Barkov scored last season, as well as the five goals and 11 assists he added during the Panthers remarkable run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. "I really value my partnership with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and am very happy they are part of the Florida Panthers family,” Barkov said in a statement released by the hospital. “It has been a great four years and I’m very proud to witness the expansion of the hospital, and the ability this amazing team of professionals now have to provide even more complex care to the South Florida community and beyond." Since launching the partnership prior to the 2019-20 season, Barkov has donated $313,600 to the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation. During Tuesday's visit, Barkov visited and played games with patients at the hospital's Child Life Zone. Video from Barkov's visit can be seen at the top of this story. Barkov and the Panthers will play their home opener on Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. LATEST THN FLORIDA STORIES Three takeaways from Florida Panthers 4-3 victory over New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/three-takeaways-from-florida-panthers-4-3-victory-over-new-jersey-devils] Panthers withstand Devils comeback effort, end road trip with 4-3 victory in New Jersey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-withstand-devils-comeback-effort-end-road-trip-with-4-3-victory-in-new-jersey] Paul Maurice moves into third place on NHL's all-time games coached list [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/paul-maurice-moves-into-third-place-on-nhls-all-time-games-coached-list] Panthers rookie Justin Sourdif to make NHL debut Monday in New Jersey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-rookie-justin-sourdif-to-make-nhl-debut-monday-in-new-jersey] Panthers wrap up road trip in New Jersey still searching for first win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-wrap-up-road-trip-in-new-jersey-still-searching-for-first-win] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg]
