"He's like a god up here" - Matthew Tkachuk awestruck by Aleksander Barkov's hero status in Finland after lifting Stanley Cup as captain

Aleksander Barkov is the captain of the Florida Panthers, but he is also one of the most beloved Finnish hockey players. The Panthers are in Finland as part of the NHL Global Series, and the team got to learn just what its captain means to the fans in the Nordic country.

Matthew Tkachuk had the idea for the team to wear robes to the contest in traditional sauna attire. It fits perfectly with Finland, which is a place that reveres Barkov. Tkachuk said:

"I heard he's kind of like a god up here, especially since winning and being the first Finnish captain to hoist the Cup."

Barkov helped captain the Panthers to a Stanley Cup Final win last season. Despite almost blowing a three-game lead over the Edmonton Oilers, the Panthers prevailed in Game 7.

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Aleksander Barkov reflects on return to Finland

Aleksander Barkov is back in Finland for the NHL Global Series in an attempt by the league to further broaden its popularity. It's a return to home for the Florida Panthers captain, who admitted he had a hard time putting to words how it felt.

Aleksander Barkov is back in Finland (Imagn)

Via Florida Hockey Now, he said:

“Bringing my teammates here to play in some NHL games, it is really hard to describe how great it feels right now to be here. I was talking to Jussi Jokinen before practice and he told me to try and enjoy these couple of days.

"I don’t even know if I have enough time to enjoy. … This is so nice, I don’t know if I realize how special this is. I am going to try and enjoy it as much as possible.”

Barkov has been a key part of the Panthers for a long time. Fromer Panthers manager Dale Tallon said 11 years ago when Barkov was the second overall pick:

“He’s big, strong, creative and can play in all three zones. He makes other players around him better. He has great vision, great hands. He’s a rare commodity, a big center with skill. He fits into what we already have coming in size and speed. He gives us real strength up the middle.”

Whatever the team saw in Barkov paid of big last season when the team lifted its maiden Stanley Cup.