from Ryan Dixon of Sportsnet,

His continued excellence will only make it clearer that he’s among the established elite when it comes to two-way play. “I don’t really compare myself to anybody, but of course when somebody compares me to [the NHL’s best players], it sounds pretty crazy,” he says. “I’m really happy that somebody notices my work.”

Born to Russian parents in Finland, Barkov has been more than one thing his entire life. Now, in his new role as lead cat on the Panthers, he’ll have to tap a little deeper into his ability to bridge worlds....

Having a dad who cut his teeth playing in the Soviet Union decades before the Iron Curtain crumbled almost certainly helped mould Barkov into the perfectly rounded player we see today. The Soviets, upon picking up hockey, borrowed heavily from soccer, making centre — the position played by both Sr. and Jr. — the responsibility laden on-ice equivalent of the centre mid-fielder. Barkov completely fits that model. In addition to routing so much of the action, he possesses the high-end skill stereotypically associated with the Russians: His shootout goals alone are as carefully crafted and beautifully executed as the delightful creations at Sushigo. And while he earned a Lady Byng nod for his gentlemanly play last season, no stitch of his 213-lb. frame goes to waste thanks to a tenacious approach worthy of any ‘feisty Finn’ label. “[His dad] was able to coach a little bit in the Russian way and a little bit in the Finnish way,” says Nieminen. “And he took the best parts of both cultures.”

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