Florida Panthers
Teams Calling Florida Panthers About Aleksander Barkov Trade
The TSN Insider Trading crew reports NHL teams have started calling the Florida Panthers about the availability of center Aleksander Barkov.
According to a report on the latest TSN Insider Trading, NHL teams have started calling the Florida Panthers about the availability of center Aleksander Barkov. It’s surprising news considering there’s no reason the Panthers would want to move their budding superstar.
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Frank Seravalli said that a number of teams have made inquiries into the availability of Barkov and GM Bill Zito has told all of those teams that he, nor the Panthers, have any desire to move Barkov. In fact, his preference is to re-sign the player. Seravalli says that hasn’t stopped teams from inquiring or make it known they have interest. That’s because these teams don’t believe Barkov will want to extend his contract with the Panthers when it comes due in 18 months.
The Barkov camp has said that they would like to win in Florida and will do everything in their power to make that happen. They’ve also said they’ll give Zito every opportunity to put the key pieces in place in Florida to make the organization and contender over the next season or two.
That’s the kind of response one would expect a player to give, but it’s not not a clear indication that Barkov is committed to the Panthers beyond his current deal. He’s essentially said he wants the team to put together a winner. If they can’t, he’s like to explore all of his options.

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Still with the Panthers, Pierre LeBrun notes that Zito has spoken with coach Queneville and he and the coach are on the same page about making a number of changes to the roster. Accountability is going to be a key message going forward.
Zito said that he has not asked Yandle to waive his no-move clause, despite the fact that Yandle’s agent has said threatening to end Yandle’s iron-man streak is the Panthers putting pressure on Yandle to help facilitate a trade.
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