Barkov, Tkachuk, Okposo, and more! | SCF Media Day Interviews | 6.7.24

Barkov, Tkachuk, Okposo, and more! | SCF Media Day Interviews | 6.7.24

for me spe for everything spe spe e spe you’re spe l for spe yeah for for e e everything for you l a lot of up and down know man think spe for for for e it’s been 11 years since we were in the Western Conference Final with the coyote between that you played in just nine games does that make you appreciate this opportunity even more yeah I think so uh I think uh I mean obviously not a lot of playoff games but uh a lot of games in the league um a lot of hard work to to get to this point uh a lot of UPS a lot of downs uh but I think uh at the same time you kind of have to go through that to appreciate this opportunity uh where we at in life and and uh I mean Stanley Cup Final it doesn’t get much better than this when you signed here was this your goal to get to The staning Cup Final with thisam yeah it was that’s why yeah I would say so you know you look at how hard it is to get here just going through the mental grind was it tough stay keeping that c dream alive throughout all these years uh yeah I mean I think you don’t really think about it like that I think you try to stay in the moment and and try to to get better every day uh and kind of live and learn um put in a lot of work to to get to this point and to to be in this league um and been fortunate enough to be be in the league for a long time and and get this opportunity means the means the world for for myself and my family so yeah it’s special I know you really enjoyed your time what makes this team in particular special it seems like tighter than most yeah I think just like when I first got here everybody was super friendly brought me in right away and and I don’t think it matters if you play in 30 minutes or 5 minutes I think everybody knows that they’re valuable for the team and and feel the same way and that’s that’s why I love this team I I think it’s it’s been been a last all year and and how hard we have worked all year uh but at the same time to to manage to have fun with it I think that’s the key for for this group guys to become household feel like kind in that right now making a lot of headlines playing really great what do you appreciate most I mean I think practicing playing with him I think you realized that pretty quick how good he is uh trying to get one pucked by by him in practice it’s not easy so I I’m I’m happy that I’m on on his side of things uh but yeah just the way he he skates and his stick and how do you explain his yeah I I don’t know I wish I knew because I would have done the same thing but uh no just uh he’s able to get get a stick on on the puck every single single time it seems like and yeah he he’s he’s one of those guys that it’s you can’t beat him I don’t know uh so it’s it’s a really good Advantage for us I I feel like but just the way he treats himself off dice too uh treats his body uh before every practice every game um just a pro such a good leader for us um very humble and very nice uh person team makam um I think just started from the training camp you know everybody’s mindset when I’ve noticed that when the guys came in they weren’t just satisfied with you know starting the season they wanted to you know get going and and get to this position um and I think like I believe like that and uh and uh you know determination and the mindset like that just forms like the good bond between all of us cuz we’re all like pulling in One Direction and and U it’s been it’s been pretty great you know looking back at the at the whole season that you know the group of guys that we have I’m I’m grateful for it yeah it’s been yeah it’s been really fun year yeah really fun are you interested watching you think it’s going to be entertaining watch behind he so there there’ll be some good lines in there and like we’re we’re a close team so it won’t just be him you’ll see some some other guys in the background I’m sure doing some funny stuff uh that’s the the beauty of this team you know he interacts with every guy like like they’re all equal he doesn’t treat anyone you know better or worse than others and that’s just a kind of guy he is and um it’ll be so cool to see for everybody when it comes out but uh yeah it’s been it’s been cool to see these cameras falling the guys around even the camera guys are interacting with with the guys as well so yeah it’s pretty cool what was your first impression of s cuz from the outside he very serious and like almost like an enforcer but he scores gos yeah I mean he’s like almost your perfect playoff player and every team in the league I don’t care what you say or think about him you know he he is um one of the top players in the league when it comes to this time of year and um great player great guy like you said he’s just that he’s got that quiet quiet demeanor about him um just that that stoic you know Stone Face sometimes almost and that’s just Benny you know he opens up sometimes here and there not but you know when you get him laughing you know something’s funny so what’s the softer side of Sam yeah I think he doesn’t yeah it takes a little bit to get him going but uh yeah Benny’s a great guy great leader in the locker room and then playing against him throw Junior and and um coming into the league as well he was you know a guy you wanted to to know when he was on the ice when you out there against him because you know you slip up for one second he’s probably to come in there and Pace you and maybe take the puck go down and score too so um yeah we’re lucky to have him I’m going to run security and just stand right here if you don’t mind it’s I got all these lights shining off it too it’s catching my eye but a little bit you know like said lastas our first time kind of I brought one I didn’t know there was going to be two here already so yeah I was going to say a lot of lot of people um it feels like more than than you know just just thee game which of course yeah it’s it’s uh I haven’t really um taken the time to really look back on everything just yet because it’s still kind of in the process but up to this point it’s been um too good to be true sometimes but it it’s just been a heck of a ride and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it even the days when you know personally when I wasn’t in the lineup and there was some some tough times I I just tried coming to the rink with a positive outlook and and we have such a good group in that locker room that um there wasn’t one point at all where I felt like excluded or or um like this or that it’s just crazy how fast it’s all happened and from getting traded here and getting texts from from Barky and and Chucky about how you know we’re going to try and get back to this this spot that we’re in right now and have a chance to win it this year is um just to kind of sit here and think of where I was then like it was yesterday and here we are and now we can actually go do something about it so it’s pretty cool to see it come almost full circle but uh you know we’re not we’re not finished yet that’s a lot and that’s what’s nice you know there there’s um this year expect being in a smaller Market you can kind of joke around and get away with a little bit more stuff I I think and um you know what happens that locker room stays in that locker room and um we got a lot of Jokers on this team and everybody is is equal on this team doesn’t matter if you’re you know the topl line player or a healthy scratch every guy’s poking fun at one another and that’s just what makes the environment so great we have such a good group of guys that’s um yeah we just bounce things off each other and we’re always laughing even on the ice carries over pregame between periods it’s always tried to be kept light you know we have a serious job we know that a lot comes with this job but um you know the lighter you can keep it the better we can go out and perform chid makes it’s very special for sure uh I mean yeah I mean just the guys around everybody so close to each other just having fun and like for for the hockey part I think we’re just able to bring all all the good pieces everybody feels their role and we have a good dep this year so it’s it’s been good you know you don’t take things for granted and that’s how we are right now yeah it’s been really fun the whole year and uh like you said we just take that 2 and a half hour 3 hour when we have a game we it’s just focusing all all that but after that we’re just relaxed and um having fun I mean it’s just fun uh I mean obviously is one of the best players in the league so if somebody calls me bar I don’t get offended you know yeah it’s pretty hard but it’s it’s same time it’s pushing us to be better players to try to challenge him oneon-one and stuff like that and uh yeah he’s been he’s been taking really big steps these past two years and uh yeah he’s been just unreal the whole playoffs I’m just trying to win for them so it’s not weird when they do it when the boys do it yeah no it’s just it I mean it is a little bit but it’s just like I said I don’t see myself like that but I know that that the guys do so I appreciate it but at the same time if somebody says something I’m probably just going to go skate the other way stay grounded when you’re this you’re this close I mean you know you had such a long break through but you’ve never been this close how how are is it to stay at the moment or not it’s not for me it’s it’s really not and it’s like I’m going to talk about it I you talk about it hey if we win you know you do this it’s not like I’m I’m too old for those superstitions like oh my gosh we can’t talk about winning the cup it’s like no like that’s our goal why wouldn’t we talk about it um you know if and and so we’re four wins away they’re four wins away um and it’s just it’s a ton of fun to be this close and I feel like we’re here for a reason because we’ve done the right thing so yeah we we can talk about it but then boom once once the game starts once it’s time to get ready for the game then you stay in the moment then you just um I said it before the other game you consume the moment you don’t let it consume you and I think that that’s extremely important is just you have to embrace the moment because the second that you start looking around and going oh my God we’re four wins away from win winning the Stanley Cup then you start to do things that you haven’t done all year so you have to make sure that you are staying in the moment but you also understand where you’re at and you and you don’t let that bog you down you got to put a little bit more focus on on you know a couple of their high-end players but um you know we defend as a team and um we’ll do the same this series r with the chall taking this all in enjoying this but at the same time keeping that yeah I think it’s it’s you know what we’ve been doing all playoffs you you play the game and soon as it’s over you move on to the next one um you look at a day like today you you go through your media stuff when this is over you turn the page you get ready for game one so um there’s obviously a little bit extra attention but finally holy take your time um a little bit extra attention but um you know I think the focus is pretty clear uh right now on on you know what we have to focus on and uh I don’t think they’ll we’ll be distracted that much they are uh we got a little you know we have a little hockey rink at our house that we always play mini sticks in and um there’s been some you know games that end and you know our ultimate goal and uh it’s definitely you know they’re excited I’m excited it should be a fun few weeks yeah I think that’s the thing um I said it you know yesterday in a different interview but it’s like having 25 27 however many you know Brothers you know we love each other like brothers but we also make fun of each other like brothers do too um we’re the hardest on each other but we’re also our biggest supporters and um yeah it’d be uh it’s really rewarding getting this far and you know hopefully finishing the job tomorrow well obviously yeah it’s been a long time waiting and we’re ready for we going tomorrow and it’s a lot of excitement in a room how much will you take an opportunity even if it’s only for a Split Second before puck drop to just take it all in because the atmosphere is going to be amazing and it’s game one of the Stanley Cup fun yeah for sure yeah I think they all starts in warm-ups and you see all the fans will be there and even skating before before the game it will be electric and uh it’s been kind of a point of emphasis we’ve heard the players the coaches a lot of people talked about it but to be able to go through this with a smile on your face enjoy yourself obviously there’s going to be pressure you probably want some pressure to an extent but to be able to enjoy it how important is that yeah you got it Jo us like this is the best time of our lives so we got to be focused but still be relaxed and and take pride in what we do you’ve been able to take any any I guess uh wisdom anything from the guys who who played in it last year to to any pointers anything like that uh not yet I’m sure that’ll come along as as as soon as the game starts or the Ser goes on here so uh just it’ll be fun the last thing uh last thing for me here um I know you’ve been asked this question a lot over the course of the series everybody’s going to be matched up with the big guns from Edmonton how do you how do you match up against guys like that what are the biggest Keys against those Elite offensive weapons they have well just be aware of them when they’re nice uh I mean they’re real skilled guys you just got to be close and and get uh take their time and uh space away and just start and focus on your game and work on trying to uh you know keep your mind off it as much as possible and just enjoy I don’t know guess the warm weather be outside as much as you can but it’s it’s hard not to think about game one and now that it’s uh finally almost here it’s it’s more exciting now than earlier in the week you got games three and four in Edon there’s over 2500 miles between there and here what you do another I’m just GNA play poker that’s it uh just I guess I know them more than probably most guys by playing in Calgary but uh um you know we just had the one playoff series against them that they won and played them a bunch in the regular season but there’s a lot of different guys over there um I was just saying earlier I don’t even know if I’ve faced um Skinner yet since he’s been on the team um maybe I have but um it’s it’s different it’s definitely different over there um you know they’re playing great they’re a great team finally got to watch some of their games um against Dallas playing every other night um you know in our series and their Series so it was it was uh good to watch their games they they played really well and ultimately deserve to to win the West so should make for a great final been your time here since you were acquired I mean I know obviously the ultimate is still but just what it been like for season yeah it’s been it’s been amazing this is the best place to live play it’s it’s been unreal um the guys are so so awesome it’s a really cool group of guys uh it’s it’s the trainers everybody like everybody made me feel so welcome from day one um which I think led to success early and and now two years later we’re going back to the Second Cup Final and hoping to have a different end this time so it’s uh very very it’s a very good time to be a Florida panther um I’m enjoying it I love being down here I love playing here it’s been you know the best thing for me so I’ve been loving it you got a around what’s the yeah I’ve got uh yeah I got the Amazon crew with me um over the last little bit so um no I I still don’t really know what it’s ultimately going to going to look like but I think it’s cool for uh you know we love watching all those shows whether it’s the uh the golf um you know the tennis or the Formula 1 or whatever it is it just kind of gives a a a good sneak peek into how fleets are um on and off the ice I guess so I think it’s very cool and um it’s a great idea by them in the NHL and uh I’m sure everybody’s going to like it I’m assuming what’s the most Hollywood thing about me oh my gosh absolutely nothing probably so this is new for me this is yeah he he’s got a like a 1970s Hollywood mustache not not So Much Anymore Matthew when you have the support of the community as well as the fans and players around the what does that mean to you and also two question this what is the first thought that comes to mind when you think of Edmonton and so much history in your family of course you’ve seen history through years yeah well first of all the support around here has been amazing uh just it keeps growing like almost daily from when I first came and when I you know going back to when I first started playing in the NHL for coming down here um 2016 it’s it’s night and day from what it is right now and um you see the success that the team’s having and that’s only helping everybody in the community and so many people are into hockey people are coming up to us left and right um you know in Fort Lauderdale or you know I’ve been in I’ve been in West Palm and Miami the past week and you know both places all the way you know both sides of it are just so excited um people are talking about hockey everywhere in South Florida so it’s really cool and um I don’t remember your second part the first part the first thought that comes to mind when you think of Edmonton and all the history and especially you know you come from a hockey family as well obviously there’s a lot of things that could pop yeah no I’d just say the first thing that that comes to mind is you know when you play a team in Canada there’s there’s a different uh type of I guess passion and and Spotlight and you know I mean everybody in not only Edmonton but Canada is going to be glued to their TVs this series watching so um no it’s it’s it’s definitely uh you know you see playing in Calgary you see the passion that Canadian fans have and um I don’t think it’s much different from the fans down here right now to be honest everybody’s intoing it’s going to be a great Series in sorry I don’t know it’s been uh I know last year was booed every time I touched the puck but this year there was nothing so I I’ve no idea I mean he he’s been doing this a very long time talking about downstairs just to win that cup for once you know after 30 and everything and what would it me for everybody yeah I mean he’s coached I don’t even know the amount of games and the amount of hours he’s put in and um he’s such an amazing coach he’s uh he’s you know the best one I’ve had he’s he’s gotten um me to become a better player than when I first started here and um just kind of everything so I I’ve got you know nothing but but good things to say about him he got a ton of respect for him um and I think all the players you know first and foremost you really want to win it you know for yourself and your teammate next to you but I think you know a guy like Paul this would you know it means a lot to to him you know from all of us seeing what he’s done for us the past two years and um you know we we definitely would want to get it for him is good when you’re gritty like the team plays well when it plays gritty is there a way to bring that element without getting the refs too engaged at the same time because obviously I respected their power play so can you kind of have both discipline with that grit I don’t even know if we play that gritty to be honest we just play like hard whistle to whistle um you know You’ guys I’m sure have watched us the last couple series there’s really nothing going on um or all year like really there’s nothing after the whistle there’s there’s no nonsense or really chirping or or anything that’s you know not just playing hard whistle to whistle so I think that’s probably a big difference from last year we were you know more physical in that sense um and this year you know we’re we’re super disciplined I’m not just talking like not taking penalties but you know discipline in your routes and your shift length and um setting up the next guy so I’d say our team discipline as a whole has been our our biggest achievement uh so far and and probably our best asset right now that gamesmanship between the wiist of stuff annoying people that was a big part of your game you know for a time is it just not as necessary now cuz your the team game is a little better and you know find that samey maybe that’s maybe that’s fair I’d say um I used to be that used to be a a part of my game that now it’s pretty non-existent anymore so um I’ve kind of learned what works and what works is playing as hard as I can for 30 to 45 seconds well sometimes I take the long shift so 30 to a minute um and just leaving it all out there and coming back to the bench and getting rested for the next one there there’s no need to waste your time doing extra stuff your relationship without Jason Jason Tatum back um to talk about how cool it is to be in the fin you had any communication with him what’s that like for you KN that two young guys coming up Ear yeah it’s it’s actually really cool when you think about it and um I think everyone from St Louis um you know whether they were going to watch it or not with having both of us in like I’d say there’s a lot of people especially you know kids we grew up with and families and people that know you know know us they’re pulling for both teams so um it’s super cool to have that support back home um for not only myself but for the Celtics as well um you I know I’m I’m watching the games watch the game last night so I think it would be unreal for for shamad and for all St Louis if we can if we can both uh win it um yeah I’m I’m definitely cheering for him yep definitely kind of fun how much money would you will to spend up how much money would I be willing this rent out um the answer is is a lot but the good thing is I don’t think we have to I think they might just give it to us we saw you at the end of game someone I told you we’d be back how high was confidence the yeah we just had a lot of confidence this year going into playoffs we were building our game from we really just got off to a great start of the season so we were kind of building the whole way um and going into playoffs like we we’ve had a tough you know much much like Edmonton you know you play some some great teams on the on the way to get here you know us having to slay the dragon with Tampa first round play Boston who in my opinion is physically one of the hardest teams if not the hardest to play against in the whole league um and then playing the ragers who are President you know the president Trophy winners so um we we’ve had a tough tough road to get here but you know just that belief has grown Series in series out and you know the further we go the more belief I have

0:00 – Aleksander Barkov
15:25 – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
18:56 – Dmitry Kulikov
19:53 – Steven Lorentz
23:39 – Eetu Luostarinen
24:52 – Kyle Okposo
26:26 – Evan Rodrigues
28:15 – Kevin Stenlund
29:52 – Matthew Tkachuk

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