Florida Panthers will contend for years!

[PistolPete]

If you think a little harder you can figure it out

I'm not interested in my theories and explanations, that's why I asked. I'd he interested to hear hours too (and I'm not being sarcastic)

 

[Lshap]

20 years ago Detroit was a powerhouse that people thought would never come to an end.

Yup. Every fan imagines their team will simply copy-paste a winning season into the next season and the season after that. It never happens.

I have nothing against Florida, but having followed this game for 55 years, the best advice I can give Panthers fans is to enjoy the present. Don't bank on contending 'for many years!'. It won't happen. Cap space, taxes, and nice weather won't change a thing.

 

[NVious]

You can't predict these sorts of things.

Pens won 2 cups in a row and then 1 series for nearly the next decade.

The Hawks won 3 in 6 years and then won 1 series the next 8 years.

The Kings won 2 in 3 years and since then haven't won a round the next 11 years.

You can look God tier until you completely fall apart and are not even close to the same ever again.

 

[JaegerDice]

I'm interested to see what happens with Florida.

My biggest question is the aging curves of their key players.

Barkov won his first cup at 28. By comparison:

Crosby = 21 years (3 Cups)
Toews = 22 years (3 Cups)
Kopitar = 24 years (2 cups)
Point = 24 years (2 cups)
Bergeron = 25 years (1 cup)
Mackinnon = 26 years (1 cup)
Kuzentsov = 26 years (1 cup)
Zetterberg = 27 years (1 cup)
Ryan O'Reilly = 28 years (1 cup)
Stamkos = 30 years (2 cups*)

*Not as the 1C

Ekblad and Forsling won their first cup at 28. By comparison:

Doughty = 22 years(2 cups)
Letang = 22 years (2 cups)
Makar = 23 years (1 cup)
Keith = 26 years (3 cups)
Lidstrom = 27 years (4 cups)
Theodore = 27 years (1 cup)
Pietrangelo = 29 years (2 cups)
Chara = 34 years(!) (1 cup)
Gonchar = 35 years (1 cup)

Bobrovsky won his first cup at 35. By comparison:

Murray = 22 (2 cups)
Osgood = 24 (3 cups*)
Fleury = 24 (3 cups**)
Binnington = 25 (1 cup)
Vasilevskiy = 25 (2 cups)
Quick = 26 (2 cups)
Keumper = 27 (1 cup)
Hill = 27 (1 cup)
Crawford = 28 (2 cups)
Holtby = 28 (1 cup)
Thomas = 37 (1 cup)

*Two as starter
**One as starter

You get the jist... The older your key players are when the cup winning starts... the less cups you typically win.

I think Florida should be VERY aggressive in the next few years. Because I think their window may shut sooner than many think.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

I predict in 2027 they get eliminated in the first round and flirt with a wild card spot from 2028-2031. But next year I predict they lose in the cup finals.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

If Leafs fans were the most knowledgeable they wouldn’t have faith in their team winning it all every October. They are insulated from reality in a propaganda leaf machine. They think they are witnessing greatness in the regular season and then come playoffs they get a glimpse of reality, rinse and repeat.

The only Toronto fans who know anything about hockey are the ones who have been calling for the “core four” to be completely replaced.

Did I say Toronto fans were most knowledgeable ? I was just trying to be nice chill

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

Damn and here I am thinking I'm the one who hates the Leafs most in this thread.

@Cats2TheCup Dude literally laughs at me for pity-complimenting a dejected Toronto fan.

 

[King 88]

Star players closing to 30, Bob 36 i dont know man their run could end quite soon. Or if op means like next 2-3 years sure maybe.

 

[Idiot Stick]

doubt it, we have no first rd picks till 2067
Team has nice contracts on most of our core so adding via outside should help but our lack of talent from within will start to hurt

 

[blueandgoldguy]

I could see 3 more years of Stanley Cup contention followed by a few years of having a good playoff team as most of their core players age. This is basically Tampa right now.

It helps that Florida is in a warm weather climate in a cosmopolitan city, but it's not a guarantee of signing great players in fa. They have plenty of competition from other cities in that department.

 

[Jerkob Rantanen]

Might be the worst excuse I’ve heard

We played two rookie defensemen for the ECF, and each cost us a game (Morrow was a -3 and lost in game 1 and Nikishin was on the ice and out of position for the tying and go ahead goals in game 5).

It’s not an excuse, it’s a fact.

Those players will get much better, but it’s hard to beat Florida icing as many rookies as we did (add Blake and Stankhoven to that list too).

We knew we lacked key depth for a deep run this year. We over performed in a transitional year.

 

[sabremike]

Anyone notice the fact their AHL team is blitzing it's way to the Calder Cup?

 

[Fatass]

Anyone notice the fact their AHL team is blitzing it's way to the Calder Cup?

The Charlotte Checkers are the Panthers AHL affiliate alone? Isn’t that shared thing?

 

[avocadosmoothie]

I'm interested to see what happens with Florida.

My biggest question is the aging curves of their key players.

Barkov won his first cup at 28. By comparison:

Crosby = 21 years (3 Cups)
Toews = 22 years (3 Cups)
Kopitar = 24 years (2 cups)
Point = 24 years (2 cups)
Bergeron = 25 years (1 cup)
Mackinnon = 26 years (1 cup)
Kuzentsov = 26 years (1 cup)
Zetterberg = 27 years (1 cup)
Ryan O'Reilly = 28 years (1 cup)
Stamkos = 30 years (2 cups*)

*Not as the 1C

Ekblad and Forsling won their first cup at 28. By comparison:

Doughty = 22 years(2 cups)
Letang = 22 years (2 cups)
Makar = 23 years (1 cup)
Keith = 26 years (3 cups)
Lidstrom = 27 years (4 cups)
Theodore = 27 years (1 cup)
Pietrangelo = 29 years (2 cups)
Chara = 34 years(!) (1 cup)
Gonchar = 35 years (1 cup)

Bobrovsky won his first cup at 35. By comparison:

Murray = 22 (2 cups)
Osgood = 24 (3 cups*)
Fleury = 24 (3 cups**)
Binnington = 25 (1 cup)
Vasilevskiy = 25 (2 cups)
Quick = 26 (2 cups)
Keumper = 27 (1 cup)
Hill = 27 (1 cup)
Crawford = 28 (2 cups)
Holtby = 28 (1 cup)
Thomas = 37 (1 cup)

*Two as starter
**One as starter

You get the jist... The older your key players are when the cup winning starts... the less cups you typically win.

I think Florida should be VERY aggressive in the next few years. Because I think their window may shut sooner than many think.

yea, who is replacing Bobrovsky? he's almost 40

 

[bert]

Meh, not that great. Carolina sucks bc the team is worn down from going balls out all year

No they werent as good at the other three teams left because they are literally missing an entire 1st/2nd line when you look at them on paper compared to the other teams left.

 

[Laus723]

The Charlotte Checkers are the Panthers AHL affiliate alone? Isn’t that shared thing?

Nope. Haven't shared an affiliate in a long time.

 

[UED]

yea, who is replacing Bobrovsky? he's almost 40

yea, I don't think Bobrovsky is their window

 

[CashMash]

Age will take its toll. Not that worried about Barkov, but Bob is older in a key position. Goalies are hard to replace now, it seems.

 

[Aurinko]

Not a fan of the Oilers, but this is their year.

That being said, Panther HAS to be the number #1 favorite for the cup next year since they have atm no anchor contracts and most of their players play above their paygrade.