Aleksander Barkov heaps praise – ‘It’s his gift to us’

Stanley Cup in the final series, we are currently living in historic Finnish times.

The Florida Panthers, represented by four Finnish players, are just one victory away from the first Stanley Cup in their club history, and the team’s leader About Aleksander Barkov can become the first ever Finnish champion captain early on Sunday morning.

And on top of that, Barkov, 28, can become the first Finnish Conn Smythe Trophy winner in history. The award is given to the most valuable player in the playoffs. Legendary stuff.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice gave a strong speech about his Finnish captain after the third final match, when the Panthers had beaten the Edmonton Oilers 4–3. Barkov worked 1+1 in the match.

“In some matches where he has had the most impact (on the outcome of the game), he is not found in the scoring statistics. His gift is that he defines the game of other players. I’m Aleksander Barkov and this is what I’m ready to do and play this way,” Maurice said.

Barkov’s comprehensiveness, conscientiousness, work ethic and exemplary leadership are things that make it worth learning from him.

“This is my opinion about rookies: when a rookie comes to training camp, he says I’m just playing my game. No, you don’t have your own game yet. But that guy (Barkov) has his own game. It’s a good example to follow,” said Maurice.

According to Maurice, what silent leadership means is perfectly summed up in Barkov. It is more actions than lofty words.

“I have gotten to know Barkov better. He is a unique person. His game consistency and the nights when he is not in the scoring statistics make all the players on the bench wonder, oh my god, how good a player he is. It is his gift to us,” Maurice praised.

The Tappara native has scored 21 (7+14) points in 20 playoff games. Barkov is the Panthers’ most effective player in these playoffs and gets the second most ice time among forwards (21.27 minutes).

Barkov’s playing was still uncertain a couple of days before the triple match.

The Tampere native was the target of a rough tackle in the second game, when the Oilers’ superstar Leon Draisaitl elbowed Barkov in the jaw.

Barkov paid the pot in the next game by being the best player on the court.

“He has been great all season and especially in the playoffs. Once again a top performance from him. A warrior,” said the Panthers credit defender Niko Mikkola.

Although Barkov has forged a strong mark in the offensive direction, the versatility of the playing style makes the Panthers players gasp for breath at times in the substitution box.

“The biggest thing about him is how he plays defensively and how he builds the game for others. He is good on every side of the field,” Mikkola said.

Panthers assistant coach, former NHL forward Tuomo Ruutu has been able to work with Barkov for the last three seasons.

Ruudu, 41, who has played more than 700 NHL games in his career, thinks the biggest factor in Barkov’s greatness is his insatiable work ethic and passion for the sport.

“A big reason why Sasha is such a good player is that he always sees an opportunity for development. He sees that he can always develop different things and works for it. He is never satisfied. In no way.”

There is no doubt in the Panthers camp about who is the leader of the pack.

“Sasha is the leader of this team. It starts from the kind of person he is and how he treats his teammates and fans. You can’t help but appreciate a guy like that. You can see it in the way the other dudes are around Sasha. The appreciation is huge”, characterized Ruutu.

“For him, nothing else is more important than that the team succeeds.”

The fourth match of the final series starts the night before Sunday in Edmonton at 03:20.