Future of The Florida Panthers?

[jonlin]

Looks like they are the favourite in the east for a long time? Cap is going up and they have an internal one set. Their core is locked up for years and their cup-window should be set for the next 5yrs atleast.

Verhaeghe - Barkov - Reinhart
Marchand - Bennett - Tkachuk
Luostarinen - Lundell - Rodrigues
Greer - Boqvist - Samoskevich

Ekblad - Forsling
Jones - Mikkola
Kulikov - Schmidt

BobCop
Vanecek

Barkov, Tkachuk, Lundell, Jones, Reinhart, Verhaeghe and Forsling all signed until 2030-2032 for 52,875M. Thats 5/6 outta their Top6 + 1D and 2/3D signed. Most teams will have the same amount tied up in their 4-5 best players. Florida has become a sought out destination for stars. Competative team, weather, taxes and good management. They will be a team hard to beat for the next decade IMO. Bob is coming off the books in a yr and I expect Florida will save around 5M on their next goalie aswell. Ekblad is either a goner or takes a discount after this yr. Bennet could get a small raise and Marchand could resign for a couple yrs if they win. I actually believe Florida will win a few cups more with this team.

 

[hangman005]

Sorry but I just could resist....

 

[pb1300]

It depends on what happens with Bennett. Regardless, with the cap going up, the core signed to outstanding deals, and Zito at the helm, they will be competing for the Cup for the rest of the decade.

 

[jonlin]

It depends on what happens with Bennett. Regardless, with the cap going up, the core signed to outstanding deals, and Zito at the helm, they will be competing for the Cup for the rest of the decade.

I dont think Bennett moves the neadle much. If Bennett asks for too much - move Lundell to 2C, as he would be on any other team.

Verhaeghe - Barkov - Reinhart
Marchand/Samoskevich? - Lundell - Tkachuk

I also bet Florida will do well getting UFA:s for discounts. Everyone wants a cup.

 

[Sticksandsun]

Zito will need to find a #1 goalie soon and fill out the top 6 D but he will have boat loads of cap to do it with the next few seasons as nobody will come in higher than Barkov at 10 million.
They have a decent 5 year window to chase 2 or 3 Cups, hoping they can win at least one more.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Zito will need to find a #1 goalie soon and fill out the top 6 D but he will have boat loads of cap to do it with the next few seasons as nobody will come in higher than Barkov at 10 million.
They have a decent 5 year window to chase 2 or 3 Cups, hoping they can win at least one more.

Been thinking this for awhile now but I can totally see him taking a stab (no pun intended) at Demko for pretty much dirt cheap because he holds zero value with his unfortunate injury luck this past year or so. He’s a top 5 goalie when healthy. He’s only got 1 year left at 5M.

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

It all depends on how far the PEDs will take them. The sky’s the limit.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Amazing what you can do when players are willing to tax 2M less on each contract due to not paying taxes. It's just facts they have an incredible advantage.

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

Amazing what you can do when players are willing to tax 2M less on each contract due to not paying taxes. It's just facts they have an incredible advantage.

Yeah but I heard they footed the bill for Ekblad’s stockpile of whey protein. So it basically evens out in the end.

 

[Laus723]

Amazing what you can do when players are willing to tax 2M less on each contract due to not paying taxes. It's just facts they have an incredible advantage.

Especially when your GM will approach and talk them into the lesser contracts instead of handing out bloated contracts while under team control.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Amazing what you can do when players are willing to tax 2M less on each contract due to not paying taxes. It's just facts they have an incredible advantage.

Amazing what you can do when your front office is the budget of the GDP of a small nation due to being in a very large market that cares about the NHL more than every other league. It's just facts the Leafs have an incredible advantage.

 

[Sticksandsun]

Been thinking this for awhile now but I can totally see him taking a stab (no pun intended) at Demko for pretty much dirt cheap because he holds zero value with his unfortunate injury luck this past year or so. He’s a top 5 goalie when healthy. He’s only got 1 year left at 5M.

I created a thread asking if he was available because that was my thinking too.
Buy low and could have a decent rebound in Florida if they don't burn him out like Canucks did.

 

[caymanmew]

They have a real good team atm, with a solid cap situation. I am not convinced on the idea off them completing for the cup for 5 years though. Basically the whole core is 28 to 30. It isn't uncommon for players to start regressing at that age, and sometimes they fall right off. Plus their goalie is 36, and replacing him might be difficult.

If I had to bet, I'd say they are set for the next 2 to 3 years, then it gets a lot less certain.

 

[kevsh]

their cup-window should be set for the next 5yrs atleast.

The rest of the Eastern Conference.

 

[Lshap]

At the start of next season, Barkov, Verhaeghe, and Reinhart will be 30, Bobrovsky will be 37. I don't see any way this roster continues playing at an elite level for two, never mind five more years.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Amazing what you can do when players are willing to tax 2M less on each contract due to not paying taxes. It's just facts they have an incredible advantage.

That’s crazy! Sucks for you!

At the start of next season, Barkov, Verhaeghe, and Reinhart will be 30, Bobrovsky will be 37. I don't see any way this roster continues playing at an elite level for two, never mind five more years.

Yeah. We might as well retire them all now. No one stays elite at 30.

 

[Lshap]

Yeah. We might as well retire them all now. No one stays elite at 30.

Some players stay elite at 30, however others don't. To remain at the top, Florida will need almost all their 30+ players to stay elite. Chances are very slim.

Plus, the question isn't just about next season, it's about Florida's chances over the next 5 years. What are the chances that a roster of 33 to 40 year olds is still elite?

 

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

It all depends on how far the PEDs will take them. The sky’s the limit.

lol I’m guessing we stomped you in the playoffs last year

 

[Idiot Stick]

daily sacrifices of taxes to bettman will keep us #1

 

[Sasha Orlov]

They’re set for a while

 

[Sticksandsun]

Some players stay elite at 30, however others don't. To remain at the top, Florida will need almost all their 30+ players to stay elite. Chances are very slim.

Plus, the question isn't just about next season, it's about Florida's chances over the next 5 years. What are the chances that a roster of 33 to 40 year olds is still elite?

I agree on Bob's age being worrisome but 30 year olds??

 

[NVious]

1st team to ever get banned in NHL (and VGK) history.

 

[AvroArrow]

They'll need to address goaltending, they will be competing the next maybe 2 years, not sure if Bob is still going to be a #1 goalie at age 38-39

 

[Lshap]

I agree on Bob's age being worrisome but 30 year olds??

Obviously 30 isn't old.

But in five years, Florida's best players will be 33/34. Some may still be strong, but will they be as good? What are the chances none will have fallen off? And we're not even discussing Bobrovsky.

 

[robertmac43]

It's an amazingly built team. Should have a great continued run of success over the next half decade or so.

Zito has also proven he is not afraid to make the big trade and shuffle the lineup when needed.