Barkov the first Finn to captain team to Stanley Cup

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Barkov, calling into a Finnish radio show at 3am after winning the Cup: "We're coming home to Finland to celebrate with the Cup this summer! It's wonderful to share this with my fellow Finns, Anton and Eetu and Niko!"

Russians: "Another great Russian Cup winner."

 

[sadpanda]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805759387266380131

Legend

 

[Joe MacMillan]

He is product on Finnish youth system, but had adopted a lot from his father who was a Soviet national team player. When Finnish team play and work ethic meets Russian skill and hockey IQ, you get Barkov.

Good post. People say he is a product of the Finnish development system, which is true, but some of the credit must be given to his Russian father who was quite a good hockey player himself.

 

[Felidae]

He's also the first captain to win a cup who has zero fights in his career. You'd be shocked at how many Panthers fans said the Panthers would never with with Barkov as captain for this obscure stat alone.

Today I learned Patrice Bergeron and Anze Kopitar have fought someone.

 

[Grifter3511]

Today I learned Patrice Bergeron and Anze Kopitar have fought someone.

Kopitar never won a cup as a captain

 

[Felidae]

Kopitar never won a cup as a captain

Ah, and now that I think about it neither did Bergeron. Woops.

Still surprised to learn they have fought. Searched it up before responding to the comment.

 

[Grifter3511]

Ah, and now that I think about it neither did Bergeron. Woops.

Still surprised to learn they have fought. Searched it up before responding to the comment.

Lol. Of course! I forgot all about big Z, too.

 

[CatscratchFever]

Wait

He's also the first captain to win a cup who has zero fights in his career. You'd be shocked at how many Panthers fans said the Panthers would never with with Barkov as captain for this obscure stat alone.

Wait, is this true? I know he hasn't, but no other previous?

 

[Sentinel]

Today I learned Patrice Bergeron and Anze Kopitar have fought someone.

No, but Zdeno Chara and Dustin Brown did.

 

[tapi]

Very cool for him to win the Cup, but I feel he was exposed a bit in the Finals.

7gp 2+3, 5 points, -1 is not the kind of performance that is usually enough from the leading player of a Cup winning team, but this time it was enough.

 

[Gsus]

Very cool for him to win the Cup, but I feel he was exposed a bit in the Finals.

7gp 2+3, 5 points, -1 is not the kind of performance that is usually enough from the leading player of a Cup winning team, but this time it was enough.

The thing with Barkov is, even if he's not scoring he's always helping his team defensively. He made numerous blocks on this series, takeaways etc. Stuff that doesn't show up on the scoresheet. Things that may change the momentum of a game, lets say a takeaway from neutral zone turning to offence, turning to more offence and having the puck possession and eventually a Sam Reinhart goal without Barky assist or something.

Not to mention any names, but can you say that about every other captain?

He easily has a 100+ points upside, no doubt. He's just defensively minded.

What he did, was expose his bare hands to the Lord Stanley Cup.

 

[Cats2TheCup]

Very cool for him to win the Cup, but I feel he was exposed a bit in the Finals.

7gp 2+3, 5 points, -1 is not the kind of performance that is usually enough from the leading player of a Cup winning team, but this time it was enough.

He was the best player on the ice for either team before the elbow to the head. Only casuals judge Barkov by his stat line.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Very cool for him to win the Cup, but I feel he was exposed a bit in the Finals.

7gp 2+3, 5 points, -1 is not the kind of performance that is usually enough from the leading player of a Cup winning team, but this time it was enough.

The only one exposed was McNugget not showing up in 5/7 games and Draisaitl going to Cabo during the entire series.

 

[Idiot Stick]

If barkov wasnt elbowed in the head prob wouldve had a better finals

 

[teravaineSAROS]

I absolutely love watching defensive players like Barkov, Kopitar, Bergeron and Datsyuk in the playoffs.

They're the kind of players that make the other teams fans question why their favourite players had an off night.

Barkov's so efficient there are times where you think he's not doing much unless you watch him closely because he's always in the right position.