and he’s ready for another incredible season.
Fort Lauderdale Magazine: Congratulations on a season so well played. You must be very proud of yourself.
Aleksander Barkov: Yes.
FLMag: I’m assuming you went back to Finland for the summer. How did they welcome you there?
Barkov: After leaving here, I thought it was time to go and relax for a bit. Going there was a little more than I expected. Obviously people there follow hockey a lot, in a good way. Everyone stopped me and congratulated me and talked about the season. It is nice, for sure. It’s nice to get that kind of congratulations and respect as well.
FLMag: And your entire family is there?
Barkov: My mother lives there. My brother lives in Thailand. My dad is coaching in Russia.
FLMag: Oh, so your dad still lives in Russia. He coaches there?
Barkov: Yes, he coaches there. Hockey is his life and he’s been coaching there for a long time.
FLMag: Did he meet you in Finland to celebrate?
Barkov: Yes, he came for a couple of days.
FLMag: You played for two years in the top pro league in Finland. I read that at age 16, you became the youngest player in the league’s history to score a goal. Is that true?
Barkov: To score a goal, yes.
FLMag: What year did the Florida Panthers select you?
Barkov: That was in 2013. I was turning 18 that year.
FLMag: Something that really interested me, and I laughed when I read it, is that you won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. That’s an interesting name for a hockey player. So what is that trophy?
Barkov: It’s the “most gentlemanly” award. That means you don’t get too many penalties. You play clean and nice, so yeah, that year I was nice.
FLMag: You also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy twice for the Best Defensive Forward, which is also amazing. After the final game, Matthew Tkachuk stated that you “are the best player in the world right now.” So you had one of your team members express that about you. How did that make you feel?
Barkov: Of course, when someone you play with says nice things about you, it’s the biggest compliment you can get. In my mind, he’s one of them. To hear that from him is awesome.
FLMag: Especially one of your team players — they all appreciate you. How could they not?
Barkov: Yes, we appreciate each other.
FLMag: When did you sign the NHL [National Hockey League] contract, and how long after that did they name you captain?
Barkov: First, I was drafted at the entry level. Three years after that, I signed a new contract in 2016. The latest contract was 2021.
FLMag: Your 47 road points were the most in one season in Florida Panthers history. No surprise there, and that’s why you became the leader. Do you believe that you are the reason the Panthers finished first in the NHL?
Barkov: It’s a team game. Everyone in our team played a part.
FLMag: But you’re the one who keeps the puck moving in the right pattern and you’re famous for that. How do you even do that?
Barkov: Everyone does their own thing and does it as well as possible.
FLMag: Where did you learn your acquired skills? Was it in Finland?
Barkov: I was born and raised in Finland, so that’s where I started playing hockey. That’s where I grew up as a hockey player.
FLMag: Did your dad have a big part in that also?
Barkov: Yes, he also played professionally in Finland, so I got to watch his practices and his games. Then, he became a coach and he still is. He’s coaching me every day still to this day.
FLMag: And you were a teen when you began, so he coached you and showed you the ropes. Lucky you. What is your role in helping the team play so cohesively?
Barkov: Us hockey players, we always say the same thing: “just trying to do my job.” Which is trying to be as good as possible every time I step on the ice. Whenever I’m off the ice, I’m at the gym and trying to lead by example. That’s what I’m trying to do.
FLMag: And what a good example you are. How does your coach compare to other coaches?
Barkov: He’s great. He has the most experience in the whole league as a coach. He’s been a coach in the National Hockey League for a long time — 30 years or so. He’s coached in the KHL [Kontinental Hockey League]; he’s coached national teams. So he’s seen everything in hockey in every part of the world. He knows hockey from beginning to end, so he knows everything. So when he’s talking, when he’s showing you and leading you on what to do…you listen. I’ve learned so much from him. The way he gets us prepared for the games in practices is just special. He’s definitely one of those guys that gets you going for the games.
FLMag: You’re very lucky to have him as a coach. What created the dynamic of last year’s Panthers team?
Barkov: I think from the year before that when we went to the finals, we came together because we had a lot of tough times and faced a lot of adversities. Like we barely made the playoffs; in the second to last game, we lost in overtime. Then Chicago beat Pittsburgh, so we made the playoffs and we faced the Boston Bruins, who had a record-setting year — like the most points ever in the regular season. We beat them in Game 7 in overtime, so that was the beginning of what we have right now. Ever since, we’ve been getting better and just playing better. Last year was a great example of how much we wanted to win the whole game.
FLMag: What was it like to skate around holding that [Stanley] Cup?
Barkov: Oh, it was amazing. I know I’ve seen a lot of players hoisting the Cup. It was an emotional moment. You think about how much you’ve done as a team, as an individual for that moment to become real. And now it’s real and you’re holding the Cup, skating around the rink. And it was even more special because we won it at home with our fans and families.
FLMag: Do you have predictions for the upcoming season?
Barkov: I don’t want to predict anything, because we’re the type of team that just takes it day by day. Tomorrow, I know we have another tough practice. We’re just worried about that and not anything else, and that’s what makes us a good team. We’re just worried about what’s coming next.
FLMag: Well, I wish you another successful year so we can all celebrate again.
Barkov: I appreciate it — we’re going to do our best.
FLMag: It was a pleasure meeting you and speaking to you.
Barkov: You as well.
