“It means the world to me, to be honest,” Barkov said. “It’s Athlete of the Year in Finland, the country where I was born, where I was raised and grew up watching national teams play and cheering for them. To get that honor, it’s huge for me. I’m really, really happy and really thankful to be able to get that award.”

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov became the first hockey player to ever win Finland's Sportsman of the Year in a vote by the Finnish Association of Sports Journalists. Barkov, the first Finnish captain to win the Stanley Cup, was named Hockey Player of the Year at the annual Sports Gala on Thursday night.

Putting a cherry on top of an incredible year, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov took home “Athlete of the Year” honors at the Finnish Sports Gala in Helsinki on Thursday. Given out annually since 1947, Barkov is the first hockey player to ever win the prestigious award.

On Thursday, Barkov became the first hockey player to be named Finland’s Sportsman of the Year. The award is voted on annually by the Finnish Sports Journalists’ Association and has been given out since 1947.

Aleksander Barkov has been selected as the 2024 Sports Personality of the Year, becoming the first ice hockey player to do so. In June last year, Barkov made history as the first Finnish captain to win the Stanley Cup after his Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a winner-take-all game seven.

Special teams success was the key to victory for the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night. The Red Wings dominated on the power play, scoring three times on just four shots to take down the Florida Panthers 5-2 at Amerant Bank Arena.

So Lundell took the onus upon himself to make sure the way he plays on the ice is compatible with whoever his linemates are while not compromising his own performance. It has made him a key part of the Panthers’ core, evidenced by his six-year contract extension this summer.

Florida Panthers (25-15-2, in the Atlantic Division ... Anton Lundell scored two goals in the victory. TOP PERFORMERS: Aleksander Barkov Jr. has 11 goals and 25 assists for the Panthers. Eetu Luostarinen has four goals over the past 10 games.

Utah Hockey Club forward Kevin Stenlund met with his former Florida Panthers teammates and got a new prized possession: a Stanley Cup ring.

The Finnish Sports Journalists’ Association has voted Aleksander Barkov the best ... Because of the ongoing Florida Panthers season, Barkov couldn’t attend the ceremony in Helsinki – a ...

Anton Lundell scored the shootout winner and Spencer Knight made 26 saves as the Florida Panthers downed the New Jersey Devils<a class="excerpt-read-more" href=" More

Florida Panthers star Sam Reinhart was ejected from Saturday’s 3–0 win over the Anaheim Ducks after delivering a knee-on-knee hit to Isac Lundestrom late in the first period.