If there is anyone on the Florida Panthers that the team's management would not want to trade, you'd have to think that would be captain Aleksander Barkov. However, according to TSN Insider Frank Seravalli, other teams are calling Florida and inquiring about Barkov just the same, and he explains why.
" I'm told a number of teams have made inquiries to GM Bill Zito over the last number of weeks to check out Barkov's availability, said Seravalli on the latest edition of TSN's Insider Trading. "And when asked, Zito said on the record, he wanted to be clear that he has no intention of trading Barkov and that in fact he would like to re-sign him. But, the reason teams are calling is because they're skeptical that the No. 24 player in the TSN Top 50 this year will re-sign with the Florida Panthers when his contract expires in 18 months."
Barkov's current contract, which expires at the end of 2021-22, has an average annual value of $5.9 million, a great price for someone who's had 60+ points the last three season, including 96 (35G, 61A) in 2018-19.
"So, the Barkov camp at this point says they want to win in Florida," said Seravalli. "They're going to do everything they can to do that, but they're also going to give Bill Zito every opportunity to put the right pieces in place in order for that to happen. Barkov is going to be a key name to watch over the next number of months."
Source: TSN Insider Trading
