Panthers F Barkov will not be loaned to Finland for World Junior Championships

Florida Panthers Forward Aleksander Barkov, the 2nd overall pick at the 2013 NHL entry draft, will not be loaned to Finland's U20 team for the upcoming World Junior Championship tournament. 

"There's no way he's going anywhere but here,'' Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon told the Miami Herald. "We have to let him grow. He's a big part of our future and our present.''

Barkov is currently playing top-line minutes for the Panthers at even-strength and has managed 10 points in 27 games this season. The highly touted Finnish forward managed 7 points in 6 games at the 2013 World Junior Championship tournament as a 17-year-old skater.