Can the Panthers make the playoffs with this blueline?

[TheImpatientPanther]

Last season was the outlier season for them. In normal seasons with normal divisions, they have been a bubble team under their core. They got worse moving two pieces for 1, plus all of the loss of depth due to cap space isn't helping.

I'm not suggesting they can't win a few games and be higher in the standings. Just, to this point of the season, their team has major major flaws.

????

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Florida has been the best team in the Atlantic by some measures. I think their points totals will start to follow these measurements.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Team[/TD]
[TD]GP[/TD]
[TD]Points[/TD]
[TD]Projection[/TD]
[TD]ShotsF%[/TD]
[TD]SF% Rank[/TD]
[TD]xGF%[/TD]
[TD]xGF rank[/TD]
[TD]SCF%[/TD]
[TD]SCF% Rank[/TD]
[TD]HDCF%[/TD]
[TD]HDCF% Rank[/TD]
[TD]PDO[/TD]
[TD]PDO Rank[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Boston Bruins[/TD]

[TD]

10​

[/TD]

[TD]

18​

[/TD]

[TD]148[/TD]
[TD]53.0[/TD]

[TD]

2​

[/TD]

[TD]54.3[/TD]

[TD]

2​

[/TD]

[TD]

54.3​

[/TD]

[TD]

3​

[/TD]

[TD]

55.6​

[/TD]

[TD]

2​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.022​

[/TD]

[TD]

3​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buffalo Sabres[/TD]

[TD]

10​

[/TD]

[TD]

14​

[/TD]

[TD]115[/TD]
[TD]50.5[/TD]

[TD]

6​

[/TD]

[TD]49.5[/TD]

[TD]

6​

[/TD]

[TD]

51.6​

[/TD]

[TD]

5​

[/TD]

[TD]

48.9​

[/TD]

[TD]

6​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.03​

[/TD]

[TD]

1​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tampa Bay Lightning[/TD]

[TD]

10​

[/TD]

[TD]

12​

[/TD]

[TD]98[/TD]
[TD]51.3[/TD]

[TD]

4​

[/TD]

[TD]49.8[/TD]

[TD]

5​

[/TD]

[TD]

51.5​

[/TD]

[TD]

6​

[/TD]

[TD]

53.4​

[/TD]

[TD]

4​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.991​

[/TD]

[TD]

7​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Detroit Red Wings[/TD]

[TD]

9​

[/TD]

[TD]

10​

[/TD]

[TD]91[/TD]
[TD]42.4[/TD]

[TD]

8​

[/TD]

[TD]43.2[/TD]

[TD]

8​

[/TD]

[TD]

44.1​

[/TD]

[TD]

8​

[/TD]

[TD]

44.0​

[/TD]

[TD]

7​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.008​

[/TD]

[TD]

4​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Florida Panthers[/TD]

[TD]

10​

[/TD]

[TD]

11​

[/TD]

[TD]90[/TD]
[TD]59.8[/TD]

[TD]

1​

[/TD]

[TD]60.7[/TD]

[TD]

1​

[/TD]

[TD]

64.1​

[/TD]

[TD]

1​

[/TD]

[TD]

57.4​

[/TD]

[TD]

1​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.997​

[/TD]

[TD]

6​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Toronto Maple Leafs[/TD]

[TD]

11​

[/TD]

[TD]

12​

[/TD]

[TD]89[/TD]
[TD]52.2[/TD]

[TD]

3​

[/TD]

[TD]53.2[/TD]

[TD]

3​

[/TD]

[TD]

54.6​

[/TD]

[TD]

2​

[/TD]

[TD]

52.4​

[/TD]

[TD]

5​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.986​

[/TD]

[TD]

8​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Montreal Canadiens[/TD]

[TD]

10​

[/TD]

[TD]

10​

[/TD]

[TD]82[/TD]
[TD]51.1[/TD]

[TD]

5​

[/TD]

[TD]46.1[/TD]

[TD]

7​

[/TD]

[TD]

44.1​

[/TD]

[TD]

7​

[/TD]

[TD]

38.7​

[/TD]

[TD]

8​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.001​

[/TD]

[TD]

5​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ottawa Senators[/TD]

[TD]

9​

[/TD]

[TD]

8​

[/TD]

[TD]73[/TD]
[TD]48.4[/TD]

[TD]

7​

[/TD]

[TD]50.9[/TD]

[TD]

4​

[/TD]

[TD]

53.3​

[/TD]

[TD]

4​

[/TD]

[TD]

53.9​

[/TD]

[TD]

3​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.025​

[/TD]

[TD]

2​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[BB88]

Considering Panthers were expecting to be contenders might as well be. I guess we will see over the next few weeks but I am thinking Panthers will not be in a playoff spot by thanksgiving. As I said they massively overachieved last season

At this point you go for a winning streak of 2 and your spot can change a lot.

There’s lot of teams overachieving right now in the East.

 

[Mickey Marner]

I kinda think they might be better off being competitive but just barely missing the playoffs. Like Tampa in 2017 or Boston in 2015 & 2016. Let’s them reload and puts a chip on their shoulder.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I kinda think they might be better off being competitive but just barely missing the playoffs. Like Tampa in 2017 or Boston in 2015 & 2016. Let’s them reload and puts a chip on their shoulder.

Problem is they have no future. One of the worst prospect pools in the league and no picks to replenish them. Only way to do so is to trade assets in their primes for futures which also would not go well. Say they miss the playoffs, the Habs get their first so it doesn't really help at all.

So kicking the can down the road is wasting the primes of their stars. Not to mention, will Bob even be an NHL goalie 2 seasons from now while making 10M?

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Problem is they have no future. One of the worst prospect pools in the league and no picks to replenish them. Only way to do so is to trade assets in their primes for futures which also would not go well. Say they miss the playoffs, the Habs get their first so it doesn't really help at all.

So kicking the can down the road is wasting the primes of their stars. Not to mention, will Bob even be an NHL goalie 2 seasons from now while making 10M?

Cap space is your friend when you can't trade...
We have tons of it to shape the defense this upcoming offseason.

 

[Eggtimer]

Bob and Knight have to step up until Montour and Eklund come back? Bob earn his pay and Knight meet some of the expectations as an elite goalie prospect

 

[Taswell]

Bob and Knight have to step up until Montour and Eklund come back? Bob earn his pay and Knight meet some of the expectations as an elite goalie prospect

Eklund?! He gave up making fake rumors and made the NHL? Quite a step up for him!

 

[Ratsreign]

Bob and Knight have to step up until Montour and Eklund come back? Bob earn his pay and Knight meet some of the expectations as an elite goalie prospect

Montour has been back for almost 2 weeks now. Panthers are giving up goals on the PK, and struggling to score on the PP (also struggling at 5v5, where they control most of the play, but don’t cash in as they should be). Defense and the goalies aren’t really the problem right now.

 

[HuGort]

This is their Dcore for the foreseeable future



So basically he is going to miss significant time after having a poor start to the season, and the hope will be he will be able to come back from a major injury, turn it around and be an elite dman who carries this Dcore and doesn't get re-injured.

I am posting this now because they have a winning record so I don't want to seem like I am piling on, more I am suggesting that this start is not sustainable and as the games go on there is going to be pain there. Especially when you consider the Panthers have had their goaltending start red hot but the stats still suggest it is only league average.

So I am asking, will the Panthers make the playoffs icing this Dcore?

As a Habs fan I hope they have terrible year

 

[NewEraGM]

Any estimated date for when Ekblad may be back?

 

[FlaPanthers11]

Any estimated date for when Ekblad may be back?

November 12th is the target

If anyone wants the reason the Panthers have struggled a little early this year it’s special teams. The defense has actually been the strongest part of the team. They’re like 2nd in the league in goals from defensemen and 5v5 xGA/60.

The powerplay and penalty kill are both bottom 5 and entering tonight the team had 3 combined goals from Barkov, Reinhart, Bennett, and Lundell. Unless you expect that Barkov and Reinhart specifically took massive steps back, I’d hold on the victory laps. Been outshooting teams by 20+ routinely lately and losing

 

[FrolikFan67]

As a Habs fan I hope they have terrible year

Those aren’t the real pairings. It’s missing montour who’s been back for a while, he only missed a couple games. He’s looked great and forsling always looks great. Mahura’s been great on the bottom pairing alongside Gudas. Ekblad is expected back in a week or so. Those 5 I’m not worried about at all honestly. They’re just one second pairing D short. Marc staal’s been in that spot but he’s a bottom pairing guy at best now. Even with Ekblad out the D really hasn’t been the issue and with Ekblad due back soon I don’t expect it to get worse

 

[HockeyVirus]

Panthers clinging to a playoff spot right now, technically out of a spot with tie breakers. Have a pretty poor record their last 10 games after starting hot for a few games. Losing again tonight, this team might be in trouble.

 

[BB88]

Panthers clinging to a playoff spot right now, technically out of a spot with tie breakers. Have a pretty poor record their last 10 games after starting hot for a few games. Losing again tonight, this team might be in trouble.

Signings of Staals are absolutely destroying them this season.

E. Staal is the worst player in the league and M. Staal should never see top4

 

[HockeyVirus]

@HockeyVirus

4-1-1 (9 pts)

>>>>
4-2-0 (8 pts)

You were saying?

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

Team is taking on water. Marc and Eric Staal are two black holes that cause almost 2 GA a game, and Bobrovsky is a sieve.

Won’t make playoffs with this roster as is. They are anchors.

 

[Ratsreign]

If they could bury a couple more of the 100 (yes, I exaggerated) shots they take a game, things would be better. They dominate play and can’t freaking score.

 

[JustAHabFan]

Team is taking on water. Marc and Eric Staal are two black holes that cause almost 2 GA a game, and Bobrovsky is a sieve.

Won’t make playoffs with this roster as is. They are anchors.

This is good news to the Habs.

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

This is good news to the Habs.

For real, these two might single handedly sink this team. Actually three. The Staals and Paul Maurice are a hydra of nightmares.

 

[Bleedred]

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

The fact that they are struggling isn't a surprise to anybody that was paying attention.

Fact is they completely gutted their future for 1 big run they landed Giroux and Chiarot and BIG prices for and kept neither.

in the off season they lost

Huberdeau​

Giroux
Duclair until January
Weagar
Chairot

and all you bring in is Matt Tkachuk that's not enough

that's fine for replacing Huberdeau

​

But it doesn't replace Giroux or Weagar or Duclair until January

it's not enough. When you lose that much in one off season you are going to struggle and so anybody paying attention saw this coming.

Now I think most of us expect them to be fine and make it in but they have a lot of holes and they can't really fix those holes because they don't have prospect capital to do it

 

[DingDongCharlie]

It's crazy how Zito destroyed a deep roster in less than a calendar year. Impressive stuff. This time last year many of us myself included were commending Zito on an excellent job where it seemed he was winning every trade. Then the trade deadline and off season moves showed up and I don't even know what to say. Just brutal asset management.

Moved out 3 consecutive 1st's, Hubby, Weegar, Tippett and other assets, lost Marchment and the lone asset worth anything remaining is Tkachuk. As good as Tkachuk's been, woof. Major woof.

The worst part is each year those 1st could become more and more valuable approaching each draft as the Panthers window is looking slammed shut. That D-core is thrash. Bob is unmovable. Prospect pool isn't deep. Offensive forward depth is already looking depleted.

This was all Chiarelli level incompetent. Guess, I did have the words after all. Feel bad for the Panthers fans though, they waited forever to win a playoff round only to watch things quickly fall apart yet again.

 

[BB88]

The fact that they are struggling isn't a surprise to anybody that was paying attention.

Fact is they completely gutted their future for 1 big run they landed Giroux and Chiarot and BIG prices for and kept neither.

in the off season they lost

Huberdeau​

Giroux
Duclair until January
Weagar
Chairot

and all you bring in is Matt Tkachuk that's not enough

that's fine for replacing Huberdeau

​

But it doesn't replace Giroux or Weagar or Duclair until January

it's not enough. When you lose that much in one off season you are going to struggle and so anybody paying attention saw this coming.

Now I think most of us expect them to be fine and make it in but they have a lot of holes and they can't really fix those holes because they don't have prospect capital to do it

They were at 120 point pace pre deadline acquisitions
The forwards they lost from that were Hubs& Marchment.

& they brought in Tkachuk, White& Balcers.

White has been good and Luostarinen one of their most improved players with bigger role.

That’s not the issue with them

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

You were saying?

The Leafs are gonna win the Cup, the fun in Florida is over, we gotta scorch earth at this point