Barkov Youngest NHL Player to Score Since 1942: Florida Panthers rookie Aleksander Barkov became the youngest player in 71 years to score a goal in an NHL game Thursday. The second player selected in the 2013 NHL draft, Barkov, 18 years and 31 days old, tied the Panthers opener against the Dallas Stars in a game Florida won 4-2. On Nov. 22, 1942, Jackie Schmidt of the Boston Bruins scored at age 18 years and 11 days, in a 7-6 defensive struggle against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Schmidt only played one season at the NHL level, called up to replace players called to duty during World War II.