Aleksander Barkov is getting back into training shape. Dallas’ number one guard Jake Oettinger signed an eight-year contract extension that starts next season.
STT Sports,
Mika Halonen
Florida Panthers’ Finnish star Alexander Barkov may return to hockey games as early as next week, NHL’s Finnish website told on Thursday.
Barkov returned to the ice on Thursday, but was not yet involved in team training.
He was injured last week Finnish time in the Ottawa Senators match played the night before Friday. Barkov slid at high speed feet first towards the side and could not get out of the rink without help.
– We want to be wise about his return, but at least his health has not taken a backseat. He plays as soon as he feels he is 100 percent fit, Florida head coach Paul Maurice quoth.
According to Maurice, Barkov should be fit to play at least by the team’s trip to Finland. The Panthers will play two NHL games against the Dallas Stars in Tampere at the beginning of November.
Big goalkeeper contract
Dallas Stars number one point guard Jake Oettinger has in turn signed an eight-year, $66 million contract extension with his club ($8.25 million per year).
The contract starts next season and lasts until the 2032–33 season. Oettinger, 25, would have become a restricted free agent next summer.
Oettinger has started his season with three wins and a save percentage of 94.8.
Among NHL goaltenders, the biggest contract ($10.5 million per year) belongs to Montreal With Carey Pricebut this has not been able to play since the 2021–22 season.
Of the goalkeepers currently playing, Florida earns the most Sergei Bobrovsky ($10 million per year) and Tampa Andrei Vasilevskiy ($9.5 million per year).
Also the Boston Bruins Jeremy Swayman recently signed an eight-year, $66 million deal with his club.
Below you can listen to the most recent episode of Ika änäri, where the topic is, among other things, goalkeepers.