LeBrun: Aleksander Barkov and the unseen leadership behind the Panthers’ playoff run

SUNRISE, Fla. — It is a common occurrence in these parts for people throughout the Panthers organization to arrive at work to find Finnish chocolates waiting for them.

They probably have an inkling of who they’re from, of course.

It’s just one little example of the kind of person Sasha Barkov is, wanting to sprinkle a little Finnish love amongst the people in his daily orbit.

“To me, the Finnish chocolate is the best in the world,” Barkov told The Athletic on Monday, a day after helping his team to a surprising 3-0 second-round lead over the Maple Leafs. “I just like to bring something from Finland and show that we have a really nice country.”

So there’s lots of Karl Fazer chocolate around here at FLA Live Arena.

“We have a lot of Finnish chocolate in the locker room a lot more than Swedish chocolate, that’s for sure,” Barkov added with a sly grin.

There’s the sense of humor, too, which those of us on the outside hear about but don’t get to really see. The soft-spoken Barkov doesn’t let the outside world in a whole lot.

And it’s been easier to avoid the spotlight this season, with Matthew Tkachuk arriving in South Florida and absorbing so much of it. It’s one of the less-celebrated aspects of the trade that brought Tkachuk from Calgary. The focus on Tkachuk gives the Panthers captain more space to operate.

“I would think that Barkov really enjoys having Matthew here,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Monday. “He’s a quiet man. He’s articulate. He’s very bright. He’s just a quiet man. So much of his leadership is truly by example.”

Echoed Panthers blueliner Brandon Montour on Monday: “Yeah, I think there’s other guys who can take that spotlight. Whether he’s talking or not, we’ve got other guys who can step up and do that, which is great for our locker room and our team.

“The way (Barkov) presents himself, the way he works off the ice, it shows on the ice. It’s tremendous the type of guy he is, the type of human he is, and obviously the player everyone knows.”

What it reminds me of is Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Sakic, who in his playing days would be way more comfortable talking about his mailman than answering any media questions about his own attributes.

Sakic let his play do the talking. Just like Barkov does.

I raised the comparison to Barkov, and the 27-year-old immediately blushed at it.

“Well, I wouldn’t put myself even close to Joe Sakic,” Barkov said, his feet shuffling a half-step backward. “He’s a legend, Hall of Famer, won multiple Stanley Cups, trophies, everything.”

Barkov has heard some great stories about Sakic from former Finnish player Ville Nieminen, a teammate of No. 19’s in Colorado. And no doubt those stories would have told of a selfless teammate who led by the example he set on the ice — which would have to hit home.

“I’m not the loudest guy in the room,” said Barkov, the second pick in the 2013 NHL draft. “I can say something sometimes, but I try to lead by example on the ice and off the ice. That’s just who I am. I’m lucky that I have a really good group of guys here that can lead as well.”

So, yes, the arrival of Tkachuk has been ideal in this regard. The two are polar opposites in many ways but both are effective in their own way.

“Both play extremely hard,” Montour said. “Matty brings a little more physicality — in your face. He brings that out in our locker room and our players. And obviously just the way Sasha works, off the ice, he works extremely hard. Everyone sees it. One of the hardest workers that I’ve seen since I’ve played. And obviously shows it on the ice. When you’ve got your captain making big plays and being out there for big-time minutes, that just pushes everyone else to try and play up to his level as close as you can.

“To have two guys like that who have different personalities and have different ways to play the game, that helps.”

And it’s not just Tkachuk. There are others in the Panthers room who Barkov has leaned on to fill out the leadership core.

“I’m lucky with the guys we have,” Barkov said. “Eric Staal, Patric Hornqvist, Marc Staal — just to name a few of them — they’ve seen a lot. They’ve been on teams (that went deep). They’ve been leaders on those teams.”

It takes a village to lead a hockey team. Maurice added Radko Gudas, Nick Cousins and Ryan Lomberg as others who add a layer.

“Everybody has got a piece of that little neighborhood that they run,” Maurice said.

But Barkov? He is “a coach’s dream,” Maurice said.

“There’s never any issues,” Maurice said.

The first-year Panthers coach recalled an early conversation between the two. He asked where Barkov was comfortable on the power play

“I’ll play anywhere,” Barkov responded.

“Thank God. And that’s him,” said the Panthers coach.

When Maurice was hired in June, it was important that he find a receptive audience in his leadership core. He was going to bring a different approach, and that wasn’t exactly the obvious thing to do after the Panthers won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22. Hey, let’s change everything!

The idea was to transform the Panthers into a team with a playoff brand of hockey.

The adjustment was far from seamless. The Panthers didn’t even make the playoffs until Game 81. But now, one win away from the Eastern Conference finals, it’s safe to say the style has taken hold.

“Throughout the whole year we’ve been kind of learning how to play differently,” said Barkov, who had 78 points in 68 games this season after scoring 88 in 67 in 2021-22. “We’re not playing the same way as we played last year — like really offensive-minded and just go and don’t care about mistakes (because) we’re going to score goals. This year, we learn a lot how to play the right way, how to play the way that we can repeat it, that it’s something you can repeat on the next shift and the next game.

“That’s been our mindset, and that’s how we want to play.”

Which, well, would appeal to one of the game’s most complete players and a former Selke Trophy winner.

“I’ve always tried to be that type of guy that can fit in any type of game,” Barkov said with a shrug of the shoulders. “Every since I was a young kid, I’ve tried to be as complete as possible to play at both ends. I’m still learning. I’m still trying to get better.

“Of course I was open to any new ideas and new systems. To go from very offensive to more of a 200-foot game was different, but I think we’re better now.”

This year’s playoff journey suggests they are. A decade into his sparkling career, Barkov finds himself one win away from a place he’s never been.

And if the Panthers keep advancing, the spotlight will shine brighter and brighter on the Florida captain, whether he likes it or not.

But it also means more Finnish chocolates are on the way, which is a win for everyone in the Panthers organization.

(Top photo: Michael Chisholm / NHLI via Getty Images)