Barkov ready for training camp, chance to win Stanley Cup
The Florida Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov became a major stakeholder in the Tappara Tampere, the Finnish hockey team where his career began. He’s also ready for training camp and the postseason to start.
The news of the day for 24-year-old Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov on Thursday was him becoming a major stakeholder in the Tappara Tampere, the Finnish hockey team where his career in the sport began. It’s an homage to his past and an investment in his future.
“Tappara is in my blood,” Barkov said. “It is where my father had the best years of his hockey career, and it was my dream as a child to follow his success.
The Tappara community of coaches, trainers and man
agers made it possible for me to be where I am now.”
But Barkov understandably is focused on the present and the Panthers’ postseason chances. The Panthers are one of 24 NHL teams set to return at some point later this summer — early August is the target as long as the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t change things — in one of two hub cities. Teams have been holding voluntary workouts ahead of the July 10 start date for formal training camps.
The Panthers open the postseason with a best-of-5 qualifying round series against the New York Islanders for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
“For me, the Stanley Cup playoffs are everything,” Barkov said on a teleconference. “I would not leave my bed and just go to games and practices just to play in the playoffs and try to win a Stanley Cup. This is what I live for and this is what we live for as a team.”
Barkov has spent his share of time on the ice at the Panthers IceDen during the past two weeks since NHL moved into Phase 2 of its restart plan, which allows for individual workouts, and as of Wednesday up to 12 players on the ice.
“It’s a huge thing that we can skate already in the smaller groups,” Barkov said. “Right now, I think it’s good in smaller groups. More reps on the ice and we get to do more stuff. More skating. There’s more room and obviously being around some of the teammates, some of the training staff, seeing those guys again and talking to them makes it feel like almost back to normal. I mean, it’s a really, really good thing. I’m not really doing much here just like hanging out at home, working out and then obviously going to the rink is one of the best parts of the week.’’
When the season originally stopped on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Panthers were on the outside looking in for the Stanley Cup playoffs. They went into the unexpected break on a two-game winning streak and with 78 points, three points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division, and in fifth place for what wold have been a battle for the Eastern Conference’s two wild-card spots.
The Panthers know the opportunity that is in front of them. Players have been talking on their group chat about what they need to do to be ready for when the puck drops against the Islanders and hopefully beyond.
“We want to win,” Barkov said, “and we’re going to do everything that it takes. Guys are feeling good. Guys are in good shape, starting to come back here and coming with a mindset that we’re gonna try and win, win the Stanley Cup.”