SUNRISE — Aleksander Barkov has been through a lot with the Florida Panthers.

The team's longest-tenured player and captain has gone through three first-round playoff exits, six years of missing the playoffs and seven head coaches in his decade-long career with the Panthers.

Yet none of that — nor his franchise records in just about every category — has crossed his mind since he helped lead Florida to its first berth in the Stanley Cup Final since 1996.

Instead, Barkov is focused on being a leader in the locker room and giving praise to anyone else but himself.

“We’ve been through a lot of changes, obviously. A lot of new guys, new coaches, new players, but we go to this point so I think all of the changes made us better,” Barkov said. “We have a really good team, really good guys and everyone’s enjoying being around each other. We’re having a lot of fun right now.”

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Last summer, Barkov received the life-changing news that good friend and longtime teammate Jonathan Huberdeau was traded to Calgary in exchange for Flames star Matthew Tkachuk.

He could have approached the season a lot differently. Instead, he did what he always does: Barkov welcomed his new teammate with open arms.

Tkachuk and Barkov immediately hit it off and the locker room culture that has been building over the past couple of years kept on humming.

”He is unbelievable. Ever since he first got here and I sent him my first text message, it felt like we knew each other for 10 years," Barkov said of Tkachuk. “The way he talked to me and the way he got everyone together in this organization and this team and how we spend time off the ice, he’s been an unreal addition to this team.

”Everyone sees what he is doing on the ice, but off the ice, it’s eye-opening how great of a person he is and how he breathes hockey and everything around it every day.”

Barkov cares about teammates more than himself

That is one thing separating Barkov from other stars across the sports world; He cares about his teammates and those around him much more than himself.

Of course, he has done plenty in his career to be deserving of outside praise. He holds Florida franchise records for goals (243) and points (631). He's also regarded as one of the league’s best defensive forwards — winning the Selke Trophy in 2021.

The captain has been equally as crucial during the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final with four goals and 14 points through 16 games.

“He is unique in the fact that he’s such a big, long, strong guy but with a ton of skill. He plays with a really long stick, which is unusual with that much skill,” 18-year NHL veteran and first-year teammate Eric Staal said. “Because his hands are world-class and his ability to make plays is world-class, with his size added in, it’s just so hard to defend.

“Then there’s his two-way game. It’s very elite, really difficult to play against. He’s obviously gifted offensively but I think defensively, he is as good or better, which makes his game so good. Until you see it day by day, it’s easy to not appreciate it as much as you should because it’s really good.”

Still, Barkov is regarded as one of the league’s most underrated players. He is OK with that.

“I have never met a personality like that at that level of a player,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “The humility is real. When you talk to the guy, he’s just a humble guy, that never changes. He’s possibly uncomfortable with the idea that he’s talked about more than just the other players in the room. He would think that there are 13 forwards every bit as important to this team as he is and he believes it, and that’s the way he treats everybody.”

Barkov has sacrificed a lot in order to ensure the success of his teammates.

Panthers captain helped fellow Finland native Anton Lundell

Most notably, he opened up his home to Anton Lundell when he came over to North America as a rookie from their native country of Finland in 2021. He showed him the ropes any way he could.

“He showed me how to adjust here in America,” Lundell said. “It was my first time moving away from my family, my home country, and there were a lot of things he helped me with to make me feel at home right away, which was perfect. I was able to enjoy playing hockey and I didn’t have to worry too much because I had him. I could always ask him about anything and overall he was just a huge help for me.”

His open welcome of Lundell is one of the many ways the subtle, calm Barkov has established his leadership in the Panthers’ locker room over his decade-long career in Sunrise.

Barkov’s real bread and butter, however, is his ability to lead with his world-class play while being able to read the situation in the locker room and help lighten the mood when needed.

Even if it means unleashing one of his patented one-liners.

“I think he is funnier than I thought,” Staal said. “He’s got a lot of good humor in him. He has some witty one-liners and he is very, very aware of everything that is going on. Whether it is someone on the fourth line or your seventh defenseman, he is very in tune with everything else going on in the locker room. I think that is important for anyone in a leadership position because it makes everyone feel comfortable and feel included.”

Added Lundell: “People will see the outside — how he plays, how quiet and calm he is — but he’s actually a really funny guy when you get to know him. He doesn’t thrive to show anything off. He is the most humble, most kind guy I know. Even with how good he is, being a captain here and a big player, he is so humble, down to earth and always helpful to anybody who needs something.”

Barkov refuses to take full credit for taking charge in the room. Over the course of the season, he has shared the praise with Tkachuk, Eric and Marc Staal, as well as others.

But it is Barkov who is the glue holding the Panthers together.

“It takes a village, for sure. When I was captain, you needed those guys around you that helped you in different areas with communication and being somebody to talk to,” Staal said. “But I think he is just such a great person and teammate and that’s what makes him a great leader. Not only does he lead by his on-ice performance, he leads by his worth ethic and his off-ice work. All of the things you need to have out of a captain, he has that.”

The culture Barkov created in the room has taken on a life of its own throughout Florida’s improbable run through the playoffs. Through countless trials — six overtimes, a 3-1 deficit to the Presidents' Trophy-winning Bruins and series after series where they were pegged as underdogs — the Panthers went all through it smiling.

And it helped them stay comfortable under pressure.

“It’s hard to say I’m not having the time of my life right now,” Barkov said. “You’re in the Stanley Cup Final. If you’re not enjoying this, then hockey isn’t for you. Everyone is very happy, very excited and we just can’t wait to get it going again.”

Saturday's game

NHL Stanley Cup Final, Game 1

Panthers at Golden Knights

8 p.m., TNT, TBS, TRUTV

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Aleksander Barkov deflects praise leading Florida Panthers to Stanley Cup Finals