Aleksander Barkov still has a lot of talent to unleash for Panthers
Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo said it best when asked about teammate Aleksander Barkov during an in-depth interview with Hockey Central at Noon back in March.
"I don't think he knows how good he is still," said Luongo.
"Once he figures out that he can be one of the best in the league, it's going to be pretty scary."
He's certainly not alone in his assessment of Florida's prodigious centerman and anyone who watches Barkov on a regular basis can tell you they've seen glimpses of the monster hidden deep within the reticent 19-year-old just waiting to be unleashed.
After two separate knee injuries negated the majority of his rookie season, the former No. 2 overall pick made noticeable strides during his sophomore season to already become arguably Florida's most reliable and impressive two-way player.
Tasked with anchoring the Panthers top line for the majority of the season, he notched a career-best 16 goals and 36 points in 71 games while averaging 17:30 of ice time.
"At the start of the season I played only defense," said Barkov, who began his sophomore campaign with just two goals in 28 games. "I don't know why I didn't want to play offense, I wasn't afraid of that, but now I feel like I can play in both ends and produce."
He's on the path to stardom, but remains humble in his endeavor, lacking the intrinsic bravado typically found in most budding superstars. The Tampere, Finland native is never overzealous in his celebrations and remains laconic during interviews despite a much-improved grasp on the English language.
Instead, it's often Barkov's teammates who are left to gush about his exploits.
"To be that smart at 19 years old and see the game that well is really impressive," said Shawn Thornton, who's played both with and against Barkov. "The way he protects the puck, [his line] seems to have the thing the whole time they're on the ice. He's really, really strong on his stick and very smart defensively."
Although his offense has begun to pick up, defense has always been Barkov's top priority. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound forward tracks the puck like a hawk chasing a field mouse and was often called upon by head coach Gerard Gallant to shut down opponent's top-scoring lines.
"He's such a good player," said linemate Jonathan Huberdeau. "He's an overall player. He's good defensively, good offensively and has good vision. He has everything and I'm fortunate to have a chance to play with that guy."
While Barkov and Huberdeau have always been looked at as two key pieces of the Panthers' championship blueprint, it wasn't until the trade-deadline arrival of 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr that both took their development to the next level.
With a future Hall of Famer on his wing, constantly serving as both a source of wisdom and a beacon of positive reinforcement, Barkov was able to peel back another layer of the mask concealing the restless monster within.
"I had a slow start to the season, I didn't play well," said Barkov, who registered seven goals and 15 points in 20 games playing alongside Jagr. "I think after Christmas I got my confidence back and started to play my own game. Then (Jagr) came in and I took one more step. Now I feel very confident."
WHAT HE DID RIGHT
Simply put, there was no Panther forward better on the defensive side of the puck than Barkov this past season. At even strength, he allowed a team-low 19.46 scoring chances and a meager 2.12 goals per 60 minutes, often playing against opponent's top-scoring lines. On offense, he continues to evolve as a playmaker and will continue to get better as the scoring talent around him improves.
WHERE HE NEEDS TO IMPROVE
There was only one noticeable area of Barkov's game that regressed in his most recent campaign. After winning a respectable 48.8 percent of his draws as a rookie, his success rate in the faceoff circle dropped to 46.1 percent this past season. He'll continue to work with assistant coach John Madden to improve this area of his game, hoping to win roughly 50 percent of his draws next season.
BEST GAME
March 28 at Montreal. Barkov scored twice in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Canadiens to help the Panthers earn a pivotal point in the standings as they battled for second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. He led all Panthers forwards with 19:38 of ice time and was named the second star of the game. It marked the first two-goal game of his career.
ADVANCED STATS
At even strength, Barkov's puck possession numbers were exceptional. He ranked second among Panthers forwards in Corsi For (52.46 percent), fourth in Fenwick For (51.80) first in Corsi-Rel (2.37) and second in Fenwick-Rel (2.05).
GOAL OF THE YEAR
LOOKING AHEAD
Barkov is currently playing for Finland at the 2015 IIHF World Championships where he has two goals and four points in four games. He will enter next season hoping to pick up right where he left off with Huberdeau and Jagr on the Panthers top line. The talented trio combined for 19 goals and 54 points in Florida's final 20 games of the regular season and could be even better after a full offseason together. He has one year remaining on his entry-level contract and could merit a long-term extension if he continues on his current trajectory.
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
