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Panthers, Children's Hospital Patients Surprise Aleksander Barkov With Two NHL Awards

The Florida star cleaned up on and off the ice.

Patrick Andres

The Hurricanes' Dmitry Orlov and Aleksander Barkov battle for the puck during the Eastern Conference final.
The Hurricanes' Dmitry Orlov and Aleksander Barkov battle for the puck during the Eastern Conference final. / James Guillory-Imagn Images
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If there are two characteristics of Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov NHL fans can count on, it is his stellar defense on the ice and his leadership off it.

On Monday morning, the league honored Barkov for both.

In a video posted to the NHL's social media channels, patients at the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. surprised Barkov with the King Clancy and Selke Trophies. Barkov, Panthers executive Bill Zito explains in the video, frequently spends time at the hospital.

The Clancy Trophy is given to the player who best demonstrates leadership both on the ice and in the community. The Selke Trophy is given to the league's best defensive forward.

Barkov, who already has two Selke Trophies and a Lady Byng Award for sportsmanship to his name, has helped lead Florida to its third straight Prince of Wales Trophy. The Panthers will meet the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday in Game 1 of the two teams' much-anticipated Stanley Cup rematch.

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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

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