George Richards, FHN Publisher
In his first game with the Panthers back in 2013, Sasha Barkov became the youngest player to score an NHL goal almost 70 years.
Barkov has scored quite a few more since that night in Dallas.
Over the ensuing eight seasons, Barkov has evolved into one of the top centers in the NHL as well as the face of the Panthers.
The team’s captain since 2018, Barkov celebrated another career milestone on Monday night as he played in his 500th game.
“It is definitely a big accomplishment for myself but it would have been nice to have gotten a win,” Barkov said after Florida’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Hurricanes on Monday night.
“But it does mean a lot. Even one game in this league is a dream. Every game for me is living a dream and I try to be as good as I can and have many more.”
As was the case in his first game with the Panthers, he did it with Jonathan Huberdeau.
The two have been friends ever since Barkov first arrived in South Florida when he reported to rookie camp not long after the Panthers made him the second overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft.
Back then, the Panthers envisioned a long run with Huberdeau and Barkov as the centerpiece.
“I like it here in Florida, it’s nice,’’ Barkov said before his first training camp.
“It’s a place I’m going to enjoy living in. Everyone is nice, I have a lot of friends already. They’ve helped me very much.”
When it comes to the franchise record books, Huberdeau and Barkov are first and second in points as well as assists.
They are both creeping up on Olli Jokinen’s record for career goals (188) as Barkov is at 163; Huberdeau is at 156.
When Huberdeau assisted on Barkov’s first NHL goal, it was the start of something special.
And, that first goal, made Barkov the youngest player to score in an NHL since Ted Kennedy did it for the Maple Leafs in 1944.
Barkov scored that first goal on his third shot of his first NHL game. The year before, Huberdeau scored on his initial shot.
“Isn’t that a great stat? That’s something to be incredibly proud of,” Florida coach Kevin Dineen said at the time.
“There are a lot of stats out there, but that’s a pretty neat one. He didn’t look out of place. He went out there and established himself and played his best game in a Panthers uniform.”
At least one of them, anyway.
PANTHERS UP NEXT: Florida at Nashville
When: Thursday, 8 p.m.
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
TV/Radio: FSF/560-AM