Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov becomes first ice hockey player voted Athlete of the Year in Finland
Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers lifts the Stanley Cup after the 2-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HELSINKI, January 21, 2025 - The Finnish Sports Journalists' Association's Athlete of the Year vote was won by ice hockey player Aleksander Barkov (born 2.9.1995, Tampere), who celebrated the NHL championship Stanley Cup last year as the first Finnish captain. The Florida Panthers skipper was also his team's playmaker and also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward.
SIXTH TEAM ATHLETE Barkov is only the sixth team athlete ever to be voted Athlete of the Year by the Finnish Sports Journalists' Association (1947–2024). The first four were football players (Jari Litmanen 1995, Sami Hyypiä 2001, Teemu Pukki 2019, Lukas Hradecký 2020). A year ago, the title was won by a basketball player (Lauri Markkanen). Barkov is therefore the first ice hockey player to be voted Athlete of the Year. Previously, Jari Kurri came close, finishing second in 1990 behind the European Championship gold medalist in javelin throw, Päivi Alafrant.
TOP FIVE Aleksander Barkov received 1,710 points in the Athlete of the Year vote and collected 94 first places. The top five also included Lukas Hradecký, goalkeeper and captain of the German Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen, with 1,652 points (66 first places), Harri Heliövaara, doubles champion of the Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis tournament, with 1,336 points (14), Lauri Markkanen, number one player of the NBA basketball team Utah Jazz, with 1,130 points (19), and World Championship bronze medalist judoka Luukas Saha, who also competed magnificently at the Paris Olympics, with 664 points (1).
The Finnish Sports Journalists' Association has named the Athlete of the Year since 1947, so this is the 78th time the election has been held. Members of the association with a press card are eligible to vote.
ALEKSANDER BARKOV (born 2.9.1995, Tampere)
Last June, Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov became the first Finnish NHL team captain to lift the Stanley Cup.
Barkov has been the first or youngest in many other things. The Florida Panthers drafted Barkov in 2013 as the second overall pick in the first round. Only goaltender Kari Lehtonen (2002) and forwards Patrik Laine (2016) and Kaapo Kakko (2019) have been drafted so early in the NHL draft history. No Finnish player has been drafted as the first pick.
BARKOV SENIOR Barkov is a second-generation top hockey player. His father, Aleksander Barkov senior, had a distinguished career with Finnish Super League club Tappara and also with the Russian national team. Barkov senior played 518 games for Tappara and capped his career with the Finnish Championship gold medal in the spring of 2003. He also played in three World Cups for the Russian national team.
MAKING HISTORY Aleksander Barkov junior is the youngest goal scorer and the youngest player to score a point in the history of the Finnish Championship. He was only 16 years, one month and two days old when he scored a goal against the Pori Aces in Tappara's home game at Hakametsä on October 4, 2011.
Barkov, who plays as a center forward, started his NHL career right away in his reserve year in 2013. He is the youngest Finnish player ever to appear in the NHL. Barkov was 18 years and 31 days old when he made his NHL debut in a Panthers jersey on October 3 against the Dallas Stars.
NAMED CAPTAIN Barkov was named captain of the Florida Panthers in the fall of 2018. In July 2021, Barkov signed an eight-year contract extension with the Panthers worth $80 million. In March 2023, Barkov became the Panthers' all-time leading scorer. The following season, he reached the 700-point mark in NHL power. After the Panthers' recent championship season (2023–2024), Barkov had played 737 NHL regular season games and had 711 power points (266+445). Barkov has played 71 NHL playoff games with 19+40=59 power.
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE For the Florida Panthers, who joined the NHL in 1993, last year's championship was the first in club history. Barkov was awarded the NHL Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) at the end of the 2023–2024 season, which he had also won in the 2020–2021 season. In the 2018–2019 season, Barkov was deemed worthy of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. It is given to the player who demonstrates the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. The award recipient is voted for by NHL journalists.
Barkov has represented Finnish national team, the Lions, twice at the World Championships, in 2015 and 2016, and at the 2014 Olympics. He has two World Championship silver medals (2016) and an Olympic bronze medal. He has previously been ranked in the top 10 in the Athlete of the Year voting twice. He was ranked seventh in both 2019 and 2021.
SIXTH TEAM ATHLETE Barkov is only the sixth team athlete ever to be voted Athlete of the Year by the Finnish Sports Journalists' Association (1947–2024). The first four were football players (Jari Litmanen 1995, Sami Hyypiä 2001, Teemu Pukki 2019, Lukas Hradecký 2020). A year ago, the title was won by a basketball player (Lauri Markkanen). Barkov is therefore the first ice hockey player to be voted Athlete of the Year. Previously, Jari Kurri came close, finishing second in 1990 behind the European Championship gold medalist in javelin throw, Päivi Alafrant.
TOP FIVE Aleksander Barkov received 1,710 points in the Athlete of the Year vote and collected 94 first places. The top five also included Lukas Hradecký, goalkeeper and captain of the German Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen, with 1,652 points (66 first places), Harri Heliövaara, doubles champion of the Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis tournament, with 1,336 points (14), Lauri Markkanen, number one player of the NBA basketball team Utah Jazz, with 1,130 points (19), and World Championship bronze medalist judoka Luukas Saha, who also competed magnificently at the Paris Olympics, with 664 points (1).
The Finnish Sports Journalists' Association has named the Athlete of the Year since 1947, so this is the 78th time the election has been held. Members of the association with a press card are eligible to vote.
ALEKSANDER BARKOV (born 2.9.1995, Tampere)
Last June, Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov became the first Finnish NHL team captain to lift the Stanley Cup.
Barkov has been the first or youngest in many other things. The Florida Panthers drafted Barkov in 2013 as the second overall pick in the first round. Only goaltender Kari Lehtonen (2002) and forwards Patrik Laine (2016) and Kaapo Kakko (2019) have been drafted so early in the NHL draft history. No Finnish player has been drafted as the first pick.
BARKOV SENIOR Barkov is a second-generation top hockey player. His father, Aleksander Barkov senior, had a distinguished career with Finnish Super League club Tappara and also with the Russian national team. Barkov senior played 518 games for Tappara and capped his career with the Finnish Championship gold medal in the spring of 2003. He also played in three World Cups for the Russian national team.
MAKING HISTORY Aleksander Barkov junior is the youngest goal scorer and the youngest player to score a point in the history of the Finnish Championship. He was only 16 years, one month and two days old when he scored a goal against the Pori Aces in Tappara's home game at Hakametsä on October 4, 2011.
Barkov, who plays as a center forward, started his NHL career right away in his reserve year in 2013. He is the youngest Finnish player ever to appear in the NHL. Barkov was 18 years and 31 days old when he made his NHL debut in a Panthers jersey on October 3 against the Dallas Stars.
NAMED CAPTAIN Barkov was named captain of the Florida Panthers in the fall of 2018. In July 2021, Barkov signed an eight-year contract extension with the Panthers worth $80 million. In March 2023, Barkov became the Panthers' all-time leading scorer. The following season, he reached the 700-point mark in NHL power. After the Panthers' recent championship season (2023–2024), Barkov had played 737 NHL regular season games and had 711 power points (266+445). Barkov has played 71 NHL playoff games with 19+40=59 power.
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE For the Florida Panthers, who joined the NHL in 1993, last year's championship was the first in club history. Barkov was awarded the NHL Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) at the end of the 2023–2024 season, which he had also won in the 2020–2021 season. In the 2018–2019 season, Barkov was deemed worthy of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. It is given to the player who demonstrates the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. The award recipient is voted for by NHL journalists.
Barkov has represented Finnish national team, the Lions, twice at the World Championships, in 2015 and 2016, and at the 2014 Olympics. He has two World Championship silver medals (2016) and an Olympic bronze medal. He has previously been ranked in the top 10 in the Athlete of the Year voting twice. He was ranked seventh in both 2019 and 2021.
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