Alexander Barkov
Aleksander Barkov was moved to tears at a children’s hospital. The NHL star of Finland and the Florida Panthers, Aleksander Barkov, once again donated a significant amount of money to a children’s hospital in the Miami area.
Barkov, who is recovering from a serious knee injury, has donated money annually to the same hospital since the 2019–20 season.
According to the Miami Herald, Florida’s Finnish captain has now taken his charity work to a new level. On Tuesday, it was announced that Barkov donated a “significant seven-figure sum” to the hospital’s sports medicine program. The program was renamed in his honor.
Barkov visited the hospital on Tuesday, where he was shown a thank-you video made by the patients. He was moved to tears after watching the video.
An emotional Barkov arrives at the podium after watching a thank you video from patients at @JDCHospital.
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) February 24, 2026
“You’ve got me crying for the first time in my life right now.” pic.twitter.com/Wnq5ULs5Q7
“You made me cry for the first time in my life,” he said in front of the patients, according to insider reporter Jameson Olive.
The hospital, located in the city of Hollywood, is named after baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio is considered one of the greatest and most important players in the history of the sport.
Barkov has donated money to the hospital for every point he scores, and over the years the total has grown to nearly half a million dollars, or just over 400,000 euros.
“I cannot put into words what it means to me and my family that our family name is on the sports medicine program and next to one of the most legendary athletes of all time, Joe DiMaggio,” Barkov said in a speech to the patients, according to the Miami Herald. “As a child in Finland, I dreamed of playing in the NHL, but I never dreamed of this.”
Last season, Barkov won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made significant humanitarian contributions to his community.
He received the award in surprise fashion at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital last June before the start of the NHL Finals. Barkov, who led Florida to two consecutive Stanley Cup championships, is still recovering from a serious knee injury and subsequent surgery.
The Finnish star was injured in practice in September before the season began, but his long recovery now appears to be nearing its end.
South Florida local media outlet WPLG Local 10 published a video of Barkov practicing on the ice, where his movement already looks sharp.
Panthers captain Sasha Barkov is looking good on the ice while working his way back from serious knee surgery.
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) February 24, 2026
More: https://t.co/ZAQV2LF0cG pic.twitter.com/mXUMAJ82PE
For now, it is not known whether Barkov has fully participated in Florida’s practices. However, his medical leave is expected to end by the playoffs at the latest.
Florida’s season, however, may end prematurely. The team is third from the bottom in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, sitting in 14th place. The top eight teams in the conference advance to the playoffs.
Florida is eight points away from the final playoff spot, with just under one-third of the 82-game regular season remaining.
Join Our Facebook GroupAbout the Author
