Latest news with #Panthers'
Edmonton Journal
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
NHL gives Aleksander Barkov the Selke and King Clancy awards - with the help of kids
Article content 'I thought maybe some picture, some art that they had drawn for me,' Barkov said. He hopped over the back row of seats in the Panthers' theater-style meeting room and went down to meet the kids. And imagine his surprise when the 'gifts' were brought in — first the King Clancy Trophy that gets awarded to the player that combines leadership on and off the ice with humanitarian work, then the Selke Trophy that gets presented to the NHL's best defensive forward. The awards were technically awarded to Barkov last week; they were announced by the NHL on Monday. It's the third Selke for Barkov, and the first King Clancy. 'It was amazing,' Barkov told The Associated Press. 'I got a little emotional there. I didn't really have words to say. That was very nicely done, and I was really thankful for everyone who was part of it.' The NHL is announcing the winners of top individual awards a little differently this year, adding surprise elements with only a handful of people knowing what is happening ahead of time. The NHL and TNT had cameras and microphones inside the team meeting room for the Barkov announcement, which might have been a sign that something unusual was happening that day.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov receives third Selke Trophy
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was honored by the NHL on Monday for his stinginess and his generosity. Barkov was revealed as the winners of the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward and the King Clancy Trophy for noteworthy humanitarian contribution. Advertisement He won the Selke Trophy for the second consecutive season and third time in his career. He also won in 2020-21. Barkov was surprised with both trophies at a team meeting as boys and girls from the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital visited the Panthers' facility. Since 2019, he has been donating $1,600 for every goal scored and $800 for every assist during the regular season and playoffs. To date, he has donated more than $420,000 to the hospital. Barkov is heading to the Stanley Cup Final for the third year in a row, starting Wednesday in Edmonton. His shutdown abilities will be important as he faces Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers for the second consecutive season. Advertisement Barkov received 96 first-place votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association and 1,363 total points. Florida's Sam Reinhart (837 points) was second, marking the first time that teammates had finished 1-2 in Selke voting. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli (828) was the other finalist. The NHL has announced its award finalists but has yet to announce the schedule for when winners will be revealed. Lightning re-sign Yanni Gourde The Lightning signed forward Yanni Gourde to a six-year, $14 million contract on Monday. He had won Stanley Cup titles with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021 before being taken in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. Advertisement Tampa Bay reacquired Gourde, 33, from the Kraken at the trade deadline in March. Jesper Fast announces retirement Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast, who missed the 2024-25 season with a neck injury, announced his retirement Monday. "I never took for granted the privilege of playing in the best league in the world," Fast said in a statement. "I am grateful for all of the teammates, coaches, staff and fans from the Rangers and Hurricanes who made my time in the NHL so special, and for my family for everything they did to help me achieve and live my dream. I'd also like to thank Nässjö HC and HV71, organizations that played a vital role in my development into an NHL player." Advertisement Fast, 33, played 703 career regular-season games for the New York Rangers and Hurricanes over 11 seasons, totaling 91 goals and 157 assists for 248 points. He scored the series-clinching goal in the second round of the 2023 playoffs. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panthers' Aleksander Barkov wins third Selke Trophy
NBC Sports
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
NHL, with the help of kids, gives Aleksander Barkov the Selke and King Clancy awards
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida's Aleksander Barkov thought the team meeting was over. He found it odd that the Panthers hadn't been told they could leave. Turns out, there was a good reason — two of them, actually. The Panthers hadn't had an opportunity to spend any time at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital — a facility Barkov works with and raises money for — during their playoff run, so the team decided to bring some of the patients into the team facility for a visit instead. And the kids came bearing gifts for Barkov. 'I thought maybe some picture, some art that they had drawn for me,' Barkov said. He hopped over the back row of seats in the Panthers' theater-style meeting room and went down to meet the kids. And imagine his surprise when the 'gifts' were brought in — first the King Clancy Trophy that gets awarded to the player that combines leadership on and off the ice with humanitarian work, then the Selke Trophy that gets presented to the NHL's best defensive forward. It's the third Selke for Barkov, and the first King Clancy. 'It was amazing,' Barkov told The Associated Press. 'I got a little emotional there. I didn't really have words to say. That was very nicely done, and I was really thankful for everyone who was part of it.' The NHL is announcing the winners of top individual awards a little differently this year, adding surprise elements with only a handful of people knowing what is happening ahead of time. The NHL and TNT had cameras and microphones inside the team meeting room for the Barkov announcement, which might have been a sign that something unusual was happening that day. And the Barkov surprises were sold perfectly, too. Panthers coach Paul Maurice was standing in his customary spot in the front of the room, purportedly waiting for another speaker and wondering if they were locked out. He opened the door on the room's right side so hockey operations president and general manager Bill Zito could walk in, and Zito went right into character. Zito introduced one of the young patients, under the guise of presenting Barkov with 'a little thank-you gift.' The boy spoke for a few seconds, finishing with 'bring in the gift,' and that's when someone from the NHL carried the Clancy into the room. 'Thank you, guys,' Barkov said, holding the Clancy while addressing the handful of kids and their family members who were invited to be part of the surprise. 'Obviously, I was not expecting this. Not really too many words to say right now, but it means a lot and obviously, you guys — well, I'm a little emotional here — but I love how you guys showed up here.' If that wasn't enough, then the theater's other door opened: more kids came in, and the Selke was wheeled in with them as well. 'Another speech?' Barkov asked, still holding the Clancy as his teammates remained standing and applauded again. 'Thanks a lot, again. Couldn't have been done without you guys. Love you guys, and we still have a job to do.' That job is winning another Stanley Cup, a quest that resumes when the Panthers face the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the title series. It's a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Final, won by Florida in seven games. The kids at Joe DiMaggio will be watching, and Barkov considers that a privilege. 'I'm really happy to be able to help them in some way,' Barkov said.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brad Marchand's stunning confession on Panthers' Stanley Cup Final
The post Brad Marchand's stunning confession on Panthers' Stanley Cup Final appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Florida Panthers have won the Eastern Conference for the third straight year. With the Stanley Cup Final ahead, Florida is preparing to defend their title with some new faces on the squad. Brad Marchand is one of them, who joined the Panthers at this year's NHL trade deadline. He spoke with and said he isn't nervous about his first Cup Final since 2019 and isn't taking it for granted. Advertisement 'I honestly feel less stressed now going into this Final than I did in the first round of the last five playoffs I was in,' Marchand told Amalie Benjamin. 'I'm just so excited for it. I'm not nervous about it at all. At the end of the day, however it plays out, it's going to play out.' Marchand was on one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference for most of the season. The Bruins struggled all season long and finished last in the Atlantic Division. Then, the Panthers scooped him up in a last-minute trade deadline deal. Just a few months later, he finds himself in his fourth Stanley Cup Final, seeking his second title. At 37 years old, Marchand knows that this could be his last shot. 'Statistically, it'll most likely be my last one; hopefully it's not, but that's just how this game works. I'm just going to enjoy every second of it.' Brad Marchand has been key for the Panthers Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Paul Maurice said recently that this Panthers squad is the best team he has ever coached. That includes last year's Stanley Cup Champions and the 2002 Hurricanes that made the Cup Final. A massive part of that has been Marchand, who has 14 points in 17 games in the postseason. Advertisement Marchand's best game as a Panther was in Game 7 of the second round, when he vanquished the Maple Leafs once again. He scored a goal and added two assists in the blowout win, which he then claimed was not that big of a game. Marchand's house money attitude has been on display all spring, and it has helped Florida. The Panthers are facing the Oilers again in the Stanley Cup Final and have a new toy to show off in Brad Marchand. His Cup Final history is checkered in his three previous appearances. He scored seven points in a seven-game win over the Canucks in 2011. Marchand was held scoreless in six games against the 2013 Blackhawks. But against the Blues in 2019, he had five points in seven games. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is on Wednesday.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Panthers' Brad Marchand gets brutally honest on Bruins contract talks
The post Panthers' Brad Marchand gets brutally honest on Bruins contract talks appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Florida Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final. They won their third consecutive Eastern Conference Final, beating the Carolina Hurricanes in five games. A key to the Panthers' success has been Brad Marchand, who came over from the Boston Bruins in a deadline-day deal. The former Bruins captain spoke with Amalie Benjamin about what forced his deal from Boston and his failed contract talks. Advertisement Marchand entered the season in the final year of his contract, something he never planned on doing. 'I didn't really want to play contract years out because I never really wanted to have that stress. I always wanted the security of maybe take a little less and you get a deal done early, and you have the security of it being done and you can just worry about playing hockey.' But the Bruins spent most of last summer focused on keeping Jeremy Swayman, assuming contract talks with their captain would be smooth. But once the season went off the rails, the Panthers swooped in and snagged Marchand. 'I find when you go into a season playing (without a contract), things matter,' Marchand said. 'Your stats matter more. So, it doesn't just become about the team. When you're on term and you're on a contract, it can be all about the team and you can sacrifice whatever you need to be part of the team. But in contract years, you can't do that. You have to be a little bit selfish.' Before the deadline, Marchand has already secured his 13th consecutive 20-goal season. The Panthers knew he was a proven playoff performer who could still score and help replace the depth they lost in the offseason. He has done exactly that through the East Final and looks to win the second title of his career.
