Today, Aleksander Barkov has a little more in common with Anze Kopitar.
The second coming of Kopitar signed a lucrative long-term contract extension with the Florida Panthers on Monday, announcing a six-year pact that'll reportedly pay him $35.4 million, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.
@KevinSpacey thanks 4 the good luck I'm in for 6 more years noon presser tomorrow @LKomarov your invited...Thanks @FlaPanthers @Dougielarge
— Aleksander Barkov (@Barkovsasha95) January 25, 2016
The Panthers officially announced the deal - without disclosing the financial details - on Tuesday morning.
Florida could have likely retained Barkov for a lower price during his restricted seasons, but the contract has to be viewed as a coup for the club. The 20-year-old two-way pivot, who's emerged as a true and often dominant top-line center in the league, will play out his prime years at a discount of $5.9 million through 2022.
Barkov has an understated individual stat line, having accrued just 12 goals, and is six points shy of his career best with 30 points. Like the recently re-signed Kings superstar, however, Barkov's incalculable contributions are at the nub of what makes the Panthers the first-place team in the Atlantic Division.
Barkov at 20 vs. Kopitar at 20, since that comparison is in vogue and seems very apt: pic.twitter.com/epDutKmtdg
— Rhys Jessop (@Thats_Offside) January 26, 2016
Now that he's locked up the future of the center-ice position in Florida, Panthers GM Dale Tallon can shift his focus to augmenting his roster for a postseason run. After that, he'll have plenty of in-house work to tidy up before the start of the next campaign.
Jaromir Jagr, Brian Campbell, Willie Mitchell, Erik Gudbranson, Vincent Trocheck, and Brandon Pirri are among 11 players who need new contracts for next season.
