Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov becomes the first Stanley Cup-winning captain from Finland
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov lifts the Stanley Cup trophy after Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers defeated the Oilers 2-1. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Wilfredo Lee]
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Aleksander Barkov made some hockey history by becoming the first Stanley Cup-winning captain from Finland when he led the Florida Panthers to their first title in franchise history. Barkov is just the fifth European captain to hoist the Cup after Nicklas Lidstrom with Detroit in 2008, Zdeno Chara with Boston in 2011, Alex Ovechkin with Washington in 2018 and Gabriel Landeskog with Colorado in 2022. His two-way play tying for the team lead in scoring while also shutting down opponents’ top players made him a leading force on the Cup run.
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Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) lifts the Stanley Cup trophy after Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers defeated the Oilers 2-1. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Rebecca Blackwell