What the Leafs can learn from the Florida Panthers: The undeniable confidence that comes with winning

During the first three parts of this series, we’ve identified the tangible components that have rendered the Florida Panthers as the NHL’s gold standard. Whether it’s their ability to defend the rush and turn mistakes into instant offence, their ability to manage the cap with an all-in framework, or their 1-2-2 forecheck, we’re trying to clearly identify what the Panthers do well, and where the Toronto Maple Leafs can learn from the back-to-back champions.

In the final piece of the series, we’re going with the intangible element of natural confidence. Everything is 20/20 in hindsight, but perhaps we should’ve known that the Panthers were going to win this series, prior to Game 5. While covering the series, I was looking for the less obvious details that could dictate this matchup and in retrospect, we probably should’ve known by the Panthers’ demeanour. It’s not that the Maple Leafs lacked confidence per se, but they clearly appeared to be overthinking. Florida kept its locker room as long as allowable during a playoff series, all players were made available upon request and captain Aleksander Barkov seemed impervious to any external pressure.

Barkov was driven into the boards by Max Domi at the end of Game 4. This would be an inciting incident to some, but to Barkov and the Panthers, it didn’t even register, despite Domi receiving a $5,000 fine for the infraction. And while it’s a one-off incident, Barkov’s response is a microcosm of the Panthers’ natural confidence.

“I didn’t see it. It’s fine. It’s playoff hockey, so things happen,” Barkov said with a smile, prior to Game 5, where the Panthers dominated the Maple Leafs in a 6-1 thrashing.

Things happen! It’s a simple refrain, and it may speak volumes about how both teams approach the playoffs. Every mistake the Leafs make will be analyzed under a microscope (yes, we’re among the media pool examining every play with careful examination) and because the team routinely failed to live up to expectations in the postseason, perhaps this manifested itself on the ice. Prior to Game 7, the straw poll among the media members revealed a consensus expectation of a closely contested Game 7. Florida then proceeded to record the first 26 shot attempts and crushed Toronto after a scoreless first period, with fans booing the team — and a certain 102-point winger — off the ice.

“You have no distractions,” Panthers forward Sam Bennett said via NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. “You’re just with the team, you’re with your guys, and your whole focus is playing hockey. Sometimes that’s a little nice. Especially this time of year, it gets a little busy down here with all the excitement, all the family and friends want to come out. Sometimes that can be nice.”

And if you were to ask Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, the entire team takes after Barkov’s quiet leadership.

“He is ego-less,” Paul Maurice said of Barkov prior to Game 5. “I don’t know if I have that word right, because I think elite players have a belief in themselves, a confidence in themselves, why would you push yourself that hard if you didn’t think you could be better and become elite? He won’t make the play to try to get himself something, unless he can. He won’t cheat. He hasn’t cheated for a play or a point in his life. He’s your captain and everybody has to follow that model.”

Professional athletes by their very nature are extremely confident, and we’re not discounting the Maple Leafs here, but head coach Craig Berube noted that his team played out of structure during their final two home losses. It can be a pressure-cooker market, but when the puck drops, the Maple Leafs may be wise to relax and play to the sum of their extraordinary talent. It’s playoff hockey, so things happen.