Panthers and Aleksander Barkov agree to eight-year, $80M extension

The Florida Panthers and Aleksander Barkov have reportedly agreed to a maximum length extension to keep the captain in Sunrise for another eight years.

The contract is 8x$10M AAV, which was first reported by Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman. Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports that over $70M of the contract is in signing bonuses. 

Barkov has spent his entire eight year career with the Panthers after being drafted second overall by the organization in the 2013 draft. The 26-year-old just came off of a 58 point season in 50 games and won his first career Selke trophy.

In 529 NHL games, Barkov has scored 465 points and solidified himself as one of the best two-way forwards in the league.

This deal is a massive bump from his previous contract, which was six-years, $5.9M AAV.

Barkov has one year left on his current deal before the new extension kicks in at the beginning of next season.