BARKOV BITES DOWN ON MCDAVID

Aleksander Barkov became the first European-born captain to win multiple Stanley Cups as the Panthers dispatched the Edmonton Oilers in six games of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. One key was Barkov’s incredible defensive work on Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, who won the 2024 Conn Smythe Award despite the Panthers winning the Cup. Barkov, who won his third career Selke Trophy and second in a row as the NHL’s best defensive forward, led the Panthers defense to hold the all-world scorer McDavid to one goal and seven points in the six games despite Barkov playing with a severe gash in his hand since Game 1. “That’s exactly where you want to be and what you dream about since you were a little kid,” Barkov said. “So, we’re privileged and honored to be in this situation and never take it for granted. Every single day for us we’re living the dream.”