Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is facing heavy criticism after his risky Stanley Cup celebrations went viral.
The Florida Panthers recently won their first-ever Stanley Cup. As part of the NHL tradition, players got to enjoy their day with the Cup. However, Barkov's celebration took a dangerous turn. A photo shows Barkov and another man on their knees behind the Cup while a third man jumps over the trophy on a skateboard.
Not sure what Sasha was thinking, I thought "Holy smokes I'm glad he made it" #stanleycup @FlaPanthers @NHL @HockeyHallFame
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Many fans enjoyed the unique, black-and-white photo, but others expressed concern about the potential for injury and damage to the Cup.
Maybe not the best of ideas, but made for an amazing shot.
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I understand that some players have their own unique way of celebrating their day with the Cup, but this one could have gone wrong in so many ways.
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Risky celebrations aren't new for NHL players or athletes in general. The Stanley Cup often gets banged up during celebrations, requiring yearly repairs.
In the 2023-24 season, Barkov scored 23 goals and had 80 points in 73 regular-season games. He was also a key player in the playoffs, contributing 22 points in 24 games during Florida's Cup run.
Source: House of Hockey
Aleksander Barkov under fire for dangerous and reckless Stanley Cup celebration
Source: HockeyDB
Aleksander Barkov Statistics
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