Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, known for his humor, delivered a lighthearted quip ahead of the team’s Game 3 matchup against the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.
When asked about Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov’s slow offensive start in the series, Maurice joked, “We’re trading him,” eliciting laughter from those present.
However, Maurice quickly shifted to a more serious tone, expressing confidence in Barkov despite his early struggles.
“No, I’m not worried at all,” Maurice said. “There’s action at both ends of the ice all the time. This series isn’t statistical in the traditional sense; it’s unlike anything we’ve played before. Sure, Barkov had a minus-4 rating through two games, including a minus on the four-on-four play. That was a heck of a shot block and the puck ended up in the back of the net. But I didn’t bench him—he’s good.”
Though Barkov has yet to register a point and holds a minus-4 rating in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, Maurice emphasized the captain’s continued defensive impact. Given Barkov’s strong performance throughout the postseason, the coach remains optimistic that his offensive contributions will soon follow.
As the series moves forward, all eyes will be on Barkov’s performance in Game 3.
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