The son of a former Russian national team member who spent 10 years playing for Tappara of Liiga, the top pro league in Finland, Barkov has not only upheld the family reputation -- he's enhanced it.

When Barkov, a center, made his Liiga debut with his father's former team on Oct. 1, 2011, at the age of 16 years, 29 days, he became the youngest player in league history to score a point. It was the beginning of a trend.

At 16 years, four months, Barkov became the youngest player ever chosen to play for Finland in the World Junior Championship; he became the youngest to score a goal when he scored in the quarterfinals against Slovakia.

The Florida Panthers selected Barkov with the No. 2 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 3, 2013, at the age of 18 years, 31 days -- and became the youngest player to score a goal in a League game since Don Raleigh (17 years, 147 days) of the New York Rangers in 1943 when he beat Kari Lehtonen of the Dallas Stars in Florida's 4-2 win.

Barkov had a breakout season in 2015-16, finishing with 59 points (28 goals, 31 assists) in 66 games and helping Florida win the Atlantic Division title. In 2017-18, he took another step toward becoming one of the NHL's elite centers by scoring 27 goals and finishing with 78 points in 79 games. He played in the NHL All-Star game, led the League with five shorthanded goals and was a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy, given for skillful and gentlemanly play.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2018)