from Michael Traikos of the National Post,

The irony is not lost on Bob Boughner.

While talking about what’s different about Aleksander Barkov’s play this year, the Florida Panthers head coach immediately mentioned the 22-year-old’s ice time. Barkov, who is averaging three more minutes per game than he was last year, has been on the ice more than any other forward in the National Hockey League so far this season.

The added exposure hasn’t exactly increased Barkov’s popularity, though.

With 37 points in 40 games heading into Tuesday night’s game in St. Louis, the Panthers centre is on pace for a career year. Aside from leading all forwards in ice time (22:31), he has also scored more short-handed goals (4) and has a plus-3 rating for a team that has a goal differential of minus-19.

And yet, outside of Florida, he might be the least known of the NHL’s top 35 scorers. Even inside the Sunshine State, where Barkov has spent the past five years, he gets far less recognition than Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and pretty much anyone else on the Tampa Bay Lightning roster.

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