Florida Panthers will kick off the upcoming NHL season under new captainship. At a small ceremony held on Monday, outgoing veteran captain Derek MacKenzie handed over the captain duties over to 23-year-old Finnish star Aleksander Barkov. Barkov will now become the second youngest captain in NHL.
“Their concern when we first kind of considered me being captain is that this day might come,” – said MacKenzie. “But that was the least of my concerns.“
“I feel like I’m in the right place,” – Barkov added. “I’m really happy.“
It was expected that the Panthers turn to a new captain, especially since MacKenzie is starting to think about retirement at the age of 37. Aleksander Barkov was considered a natural replacement, especially since he almost singlehandedly turned Panthers from a struggling team to a playoff contender.
“He’s our best player, game in and game out,” – said Panthers general manager Dale Tallon of Barkov. “Nobody works harder off-ice, his preparation is second to none, and his attention to detail is second to none. He’s just 23 years old. He’s an amazing young man.“
Aleksander Barkov was selected second overall by the Florida Panthers in 2013 NHL Entry Draft and went on to make his NHL debut in the same year. He played 331 NHL career games, scoring 100 goals and adding 149 assists.
