Barkov named team captain
Forward is youngest to wear the ‘C’ for Panthers franchise
One of the league’s emerging young stars, Aleksander Barkov will officially be leading the Panthers on the ice this season.
The 23-year-old forward was named team captain, making him the youngest player in franchise history to wear the “C.” Florida officially presented him with his captain’s jersey ahead of Monday’s preseason opener at the BB&T Center.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Barkov, who becomes the 10th captain in team history. “I mean, it’s probably the biggest honor I’ve ever had in my life and to be a captain of an NHL team by the team that drafted you. Being with this team and a captain means a lot to me.”
The second pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Barkov has spent his entire career with the Panthers, blossoming into one of the game’s top forwards. The 6-foot-3, 216-pound center was sensational last season, scoring 78 points (27 goals, 51 assists) and earning AllStar honors.
He was also a standout on the defensive end, finishing third for
the Frank J. Selke Trophy — handed out to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. Barkov also served as an alternate captain for home games last season.
“I think [Barkov] has matured into, not just a great hockey player, but a great leader on this team,” Panthers coach Bob Boughner said. “Sometimes he doesn’t get recognized for that because he’s a quiet guy and just goes about his way, but how he plays on the ice, what he brings to the organization, what he means to the guys in the dressing room — I think it was the right move at the right time. I think it’s time for this core group of guys to take this team over.”
While generally reserved by nature, Barkov has consistently been praised by teammates for his fervent work ethic during his time with Florida.
“He wants to win real bad,” Boughner. “He wants to be the leader of this group when we win. The way he prepares – it’s infectious and rubs off on young guys and the older guys appreciate what he does. He plays in every crucial situation whether it’s on defense or offense and plays the right way.”
Barkov inherits the cap- tain mantle from Derek MacKenzie, who presented the 23-year-old with the jersey on Monday morning. Entering his 16th NHL season — and fifth with the Panthers — MacKenzie has spent the past two seasons as the team’s captain. The 37-year-old forward said now was the right time to pass the torch.
“I’ve been with [Barkov] since the beginning and I’ve always thought of him as one of the leaders and one of the captains of our team,” MacKenzie said. “He clearly led on ice by being one of the best players in the league and I think he’s going to continue to do that for years to come. This is something I’m excited about. It’s what’s best for our team. I’m looking forward to seeing this team have a lot of success in the future.”
Barkov, the centerpiece of the Panthers’ talented nucleus of young stars, said MacKenzie’s leadership has been pivotal in the team’s development.
“[MacKenzie] was a big example for me and everybody last year,” Barkov said. “I learned a lot from him. Everybody learned from him. We got lucky to have him on our team that he was our captain. He’s still with us — it doesn’t really change much. We have a lot of leaders on this team. We’re going to do this together.”