FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov initially believed the team meeting had concluded, finding it unusual that the players hadn`t been dismissed.
However, there was a specific reason for the delay – actually, two significant reasons.
Due to their playoff schedule, the Panthers hadn`t been able to visit the Joe DiMaggio Children`s Hospital, an institution Barkov supports and fundraises for. Instead, the team arranged for some young patients to visit the training facility, and they arrived with special presents for Barkov.
Barkov commented, “I thought it might be a picture or some artwork they had drawn for me.”
Stepping down from the back row of the team`s theatre-style meeting room, he went to greet the children. He was then completely surprised as the “gifts” were presented: first, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, recognizing leadership qualities combined with humanitarian contributions, followed by the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the league`s top defensive forward.
While the trophies were officially announced by the NHL earlier that week, the team orchestrated this special in-person presentation. This marks Barkov`s third Selke Trophy and his first King Clancy Trophy.
“It was amazing,” Barkov later shared. “I got a little emotional there. I was speechless. It was incredibly well done, and I`m truly grateful to everyone involved.”
The NHL introduced a new approach to announcing major individual awards this year, incorporating surprise elements with minimal prior knowledge outside a small group. The presence of NHL and TNT cameras and microphones in the meeting room for Barkov`s announcement perhaps hinted that something out of the ordinary was planned for that day.
The elaborate surprise for Barkov was executed flawlessly.
Coach Paul Maurice stood in his usual position at the front, seemingly waiting for someone else and joking that they might be locked out. He opened the door on the right side of the room, allowing President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito to enter, who immediately played along with the setup.
Zito then introduced one of the young hospital visitors, framing the moment as a “small thank-you gift” presentation for Barkov. The boy spoke briefly, concluding with a cue to “bring in the gift,” at which point an NHL representative brought the King Clancy Trophy into the room.
Duncan Priestley 
Neville Woodall