The Florida Panthers and center Aleksander Barkov have agreed to a new six-year, $35.4 million deal ($5.9M AAV) that will keep the key piece of the Cats future skating in Sunrise until the end of the 2021-22 season. The 20-year-old’s entry-level deal was set to expire at the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
Barkov currently has 30 points (12G/18A) in 38 games this season and stands poised to shatter his career-high of 36 points he registered in 71 games last year.
The Panthers choose wisely, selecting Barkov 2nd overall, in the 2013 Entry Draft over Seth Jones and Jonathan Drouin. In his brief NHL career, the native of Tampere, Finland has scored 36 goals and 54 assists while posting a +5 rating in 163 games.
Florida and its fans now get to enjoy many more years of Barkov anchoring the club’s first line. A win-win for all involved.