Report: Panthers, Barkov discussing long-term contract extension

The Florida Panthers are looking to make it hat trick of contract extensions.

After rewarding both general manager Dale Tallon and head coach Gerard Gallant with additional years on their deals, the club's next target appears to be young center Aleksander Barkov, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Related: Panthers GM Tallon 'proud' to continue working with coach Gallant

"(The Panthers) have begun talks on an extension for him, and we're not talking bridge," Friedman reported during the "Headline" segment of "Hockey Night in Canada" on Saturday. "We're talking long term, probably six-to-eight years."

Barkov is in the final year of his entry-level contract, and is proving to be the kind of player the Panthers envisioned he would develop into when they selected him second overall in 2013.

A positive possession player who's effective at both ends of the ice, the 20-year-old recorded 11 goals and 12 assists in 27 games heading into Saturday's action.