There's no shortage of potential culprits for the Florida Panthers' derailing this season, but it's safe to say Aleksander Barkov's lengthy absence was a key contributor.
The 21-year-old pivot broke out with a career campaign in 2015-16, posting 28 goals and 59 points through 66 contests. He started 2016-17 off fairly well too, putting 27 points on the board through the first 36 games.
That progress was stalled in late December, however, when a back injury forced the young forward out of the lineup, keeping him on the shelf for more than a month.
In early February, he returned. And he's had more than a slight impact.
Through 19 games since that Feb. 3 return, Barkov has paced the Panthers with 10 goals and 19 points. That impressive point-per-game pace has him on track to match his 2015-16 totals - a welcome change after his season seemed a write-off in late January.
With 12 games remaining on Florida's schedule, Barkov's scoring pace would have him amass six more goals and 12 more points before the season's end. Doing so would take his yearly totals to 25 goals and 58 points through 67 contests - just a shade below his impressive numbers from last season.
Given his recent play, it's fair to assume he'll hit those marks, perhaps even bumping it up a notch and reaching the 60-point plateau for a career high.
He certainly isn't slowing down. Barkov played the hero for Florida once again Friday night, first coming up with a dazzling one-timer to net his 19th goal of the season:
Then clinching the win in the shootout, adding his league-leading seventh shootout tally of the year:
The 2016-17 campaign has been one to forget for Florida. But while the club's playoff hopes continue to dwindle, its young leader has once again proven to be among the cream of the NHL's crop.
Barkov may have to settle for an early finish in 2016-17, and another campaign limiting him to fewer than 70 appearances, but the young Finn has proven once again he's the focal point upon which the Panthers' offensive hopes hinge.
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