The Florida Panthers agreed to an eight year, $80 million contract extension ($10 million on an average annual basis) with captain Aleksander Barkov.
Barkov, 26, is a franchise center for Florida. The Finland native and former No. 2 overall pick was in the final year of a six-year, $35.4 million deal that he signed back in 2016. Florida´s star center is entering his ninth NHL season and is coming off of a 58-point season (26 goals and 32 assists in 50 games). In his career (529 games), Barkov has compiled 465 points, 181 goals, and 284 assists.
Barkov’s eight-year extension begins in 2022-23 and expires after the 2029-30 season. He will be 34 years of age when he is a UFA.