FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov initially thought a recent team meeting had finished and found it strange that the players hadn`t been dismissed.
As it turned out, there was a very good reason for the unusual delay — two significant reasons, in fact.
Unable to visit the Joe DiMaggio Children`s Hospital, a facility Barkov supports and raises funds for, during their busy playoff schedule, the team decided to host some of the young patients at the team facility instead. These special guests came bearing what Barkov believed to be simple gifts.
“I thought maybe some picture, some art that they had drawn for me,” Barkov shared.
He moved from his seat to greet the children. His surprise was complete when the true “gifts” were presented: first, the King Clancy Trophy, awarded for combining exceptional leadership qualities with significant humanitarian contributions, followed by the Selke Trophy, which recognizes the NHL`s premier defensive forward.
Although the awards were formally announced by the NHL on Monday, Barkov had been informed of his wins the previous week. This marks his third time winning the Selke Trophy and his first King Clancy Trophy honor.
“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.”
This presentation reflected the NHL`s new approach to unveiling some of its top individual awards, incorporating surprise elements with limited prior knowledge among recipients. The presence of cameras and microphones from the NHL and TNT in the meeting room was a subtle hint that something out of the ordinary was planned for Barkov that day.
The surprise for Barkov was executed perfectly.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice played his part, standing in his usual spot at the front, appearing to wait for someone else and feigning confusion about being unable to leave. He then opened the door for hockey operations president and general manager Bill Zito, who entered and fully committed to the setup.
Zito introduced one of the young patients, framing the moment as the children wanting to give Barkov “a little thank-you gift.” The boy spoke briefly, concluding with a cue: “bring in the gift,” which led to an NHL representative entering with the King Clancy Trophy, revealing the first of Barkov`s honors.
