George Richards, FHN Publisher
SUNRISE — When Jonathan Huberdeau was traded to the Calgary Flames in July, it was just a matter of time before Sasha Barkov joined him as the leading scorer in Florida Panthers history.
The only question, of course, was when.
We now have the answer: 54 games.
On Saturday night, Barkov — whom Radko Gudas aptly described as the “face of the franchise for a reason. He is the best player every time he steps onto the ice” — joined Huberdeau atop the Florida all-time scoring leaderboard.
Barkov had another two-point game in a 4-2 comeback win over the New Jersey Devils with his third-period goal kicking it all off.
Barkov will likely take the scoring record for his own either Monday in Detroit or Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Huberdeau and Barkov both have 613 points with the Panthers. Huberdeau, obviously, will not add any more to his total here.
At least not anytime soon.
When Barkov takes the record as his own, it will probably be his forever.
Barkov, the second-overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, is currently in the first year of the franchise-record eight-year, $80-million extension he signed in 2022.
”It sounds funny to say that about all the records, but he is signed to play here, pretty much, for the rest of his career,” Aaron Ekblad said.
“Any time a player plays for one team their entire career, it is pretty damn cool. It is a really cool thing and he is so respected in these hallways here. He sort of transcends everyone. Such a good person, such a hard worker and is so deserving of all of this.”
It was not all that long ago that Huberdeau was closing in on Olli Jokinen’s franchise record of 419 points.
While Huberdeau had an extra season on Barkov and a few more full seasons, Jokinen said it would be Barkov who would end up setting every meaningful record in Florida with the Panthers.
”You do not really dream about these kind of things when you are a little kid,’’ Barkov said, “but when you spend a lot of time in the same organization, that gives you a lot of chances to grow as a player and grow as a human being.
”Being with this organization has meant a lot to me for sure. But I don’t think about the records when I am on or off the ice. If it happens, hopefully it does, I will be happy. But we have different goals right now.”
Jokinen, of course, did not know that Huberdeau would be traded like he was, but said that Barkov was a transformational player who should be considered one of the best in the entire league.
He was not wrong on either take.
“He’s a good guy, a great player. I am proud of him,’’ Jokinen said right after Barkov passed him to become the Panthers’ No. 2 scorer in franchise history behind Huberdeau.
“He is a guy who was highly drafted, is the face of the team and hopefully the team continues to do well. … There isn’t one bad thing you can say about the guy. He is an unbelievable player who puts the work in.
“Hopefully he can be on a winning team because then we’re talking about a Hall of Fame career. That’s the level he is playing at, that’s the level his career is headed. He is still a baby. Watch him in the next two or three years.”
Added then-teammate Vincent Trocheck: “He could have the fame and the spotlight, but I do not think he wants that. He doesn’t care for attention but he does care about this game, this team and about winning games. The rest of it, he does not need. He is one of the best hockey players in the world, but all he wants to do is help out his team. He is a natural leader. That is what he does.’’
Barkov and Huberdeau now own most of the major scoring records in the franchise’s history.
Huberdeau still holds games played (671 to 651) as well as assists (415-375); Barkov is tied with points (613) but has the record for goals (238-198).
“I think he is starting to be recognized for the player he is, but I still do not think it has been enough,” Huberdeau said in 2019.
“He is such a special talent, and I think South Florida is lucky to have him here.”
PANTHERS ON DECK
FLORIDA PANTHERS AT DETROIT RED WINGS
- When: Monday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
- Streaming/TV: Bally Sports Florida/ESPN+
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932
- Last season: Florida won 4-0
- This season (Florida leads 2-0): Panthers 5, Detroit 1 (Dec. 8); Panthers 3, Red Wings 2 (Jan. 6)
- All-time regular season series: Florida leads 35-19-6, 5 ties
- Up Next for the Panthers: Tuesday at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.