He got the call from GM Dale Tallon while getting his hair cut. Aleksander Barkov is an All-Star for the first time. The beauty of it is Barkov was surprised.
The unassuming, quiet Finn is finally receiving the recognition he deserves for being, as head coach Bob Boughner calls him, "the best-kept secret in the NHL."
He won't be a secret to the fans much longer.
At 22 years old and already playing his fifth season, many players around the league know all too well what he brings to the table.
Drafted 2nd overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, Barkov has been a thorn in the opposition's side from the beginning. His game has improved every year, and currently has 40 points in 41 games with the Panthers this season. It looks like last year's "career best" 59 points will be destroyed, although he did miss 16 games due to injury.
But the scoring is just one part of his game. He has quickly developed a reputation of being one of the best two-way players in the game. His 6'3", 212 lbs. frame is hard handle, and his vision/anticipation is truly elite. He specializes in making life miserable for other team's top lines.
After battling some back issues last year, he knew he needed to get stronger. A vigorous conditioning program during the offseason set him up for what is becoming his breakout year.
He probably didn't know he would become the most used workhorse, but he leads all NHL forwards in ice time per game (22:30). He's averaging three more minutes per game than last season.
He is the key cog on both power play units, and leads the NHL in shorthanded goals with four. He's fourth in the league at winning defensive faceoffs at 57.8%. His 28:55 of ice time against Dallas on November 4th was the most ice time by a forward in the NHL in four years.
Coaches have stressed him being more selfish and shoot more. His unassuming nature on and off the ice is to be a giver...a passer. But he has an incredible one-timer and even better wrist shot. He got the memo and is utilizing his offensive skills. Hence the inevitable shattering of all previous personal records. He's third on the team in goals (14) behind Vincent Trocheck (17) and Jonathan Huberdeau (16).
His style of game allows him to be one of the best in the league while being under the radar. He can have an incredible all-around game and hardly notice him sometimes. He's that good, much to the chagrin of opposing teams.
But the one area of his game that wows crowds everywhere is the shootout. For a player his size to have the hands, moves, and deception he tortures goaltenders with is astonishing.
Not much else to say than he's incredible. He's 15 for 21 in shootouts over his last three seasons and 3 for 5 this year.
The scary thing is he's only going to get better. He's still not fully mature physically, and as he gets wiser with age watch out.
With Barkov, Huberdeau, and Trocheck leading the offensive charge for Florida, a surge in secondary scoring from the bottom two lines could make this team dangerous in the second half of the season.
Regardless how this season ends up for the Cats, Barkov has shown he is a superstar in the making. Health permitting he should put up monster seasons on a regular basis, and many wouldn't know it's happening...until he shuts down their best line on game day.
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
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