Should Aleksander Barkov be in the Hockey Hall of Fame? (Source: Imagn)

NHL fans are discussing whether Aleksander Barkov deserves a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The NHL raised the question on X (formerly Twitter):

“The latest captain to hoist the #StanleyCup! 🫡 Will Aleksander Barkov one day be in the @HockeyHallFame?”

They noted his recent successes: winning the Stanley Cup in 2024, the Frank J. Selke Trophy twice, and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

After the NHL’s post, fans on X began sharing their thoughts.

“Not yet, be he will be there,” one fan said.

“First ballot,” another fan commented.

“He’s only 28 and already has 700+ points, a Cup and two Selkes. He’ll cruise past 1,000 points,” one X user said.

Take a look at some more reactions from NHL fans on X.

“First Finnish Captain to win a Cup afaik, so leaning towards yes. But it’s still in question for right now. If he has a ‘full career’ maintaining the kind of productivity he’s had, 2nd Cup or not, more trophies or not, then he definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame,” a fan said.

“Yes indeed I love him. He will definitely be in the hall of fame,” one fan tweeted.

“Definitely on his way, just gotta play to 1000+ games with the same level of consistency,” a fan commented.

Last season, Barkov led the Panthers with 80 points (23 goals, 57 assists) in 73 games. He has had two 80-point seasons in the last three years, despite missing games each time.

Aleksander Barkov led the Florida Panthers to their first Stanley Cup in 2024

On June 24, 2024, Aleksander Barkov led the Florida Panthers to their first Stanley Cup win. He became the first Finnish captain to lift the trophy. Fellow Finns Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola also celebrated the victory. Barkov found it surreal to celebrate with his 2-year-old child.

“I was young when I came here, so I never thought I could celebrate someday with my kid,” Barkov said via apnews.com). “Unreal feeling.”

Barkov’s defensive play was crucial in the playoffs. He helped shut down top players like David Pastrnak, Artemi Panarin, and Connor McDavid. McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy, but Barkov’s contribution was significant. He led the team with 22 points in 24 games.

Teammate Sam Bennett praised Barkov’s dedication to both offense and defense.

“He’s our leader,” Bennett said. “He plays the game the right way. It’s pretty special to see a guy so committed, as gifted as he is offensively, he’s so committed to playing defense and shutting guys down, blocking shots…”

For Lundell and other Finnish players, Aleksander Barkov is a role model and represents the dreams of many young Finnish hockey players.