Future of The Florida Panthers?

[boltsfan86]

I think it's harder to find a Stanley Cup caliber goaltender than OP is making it seem, but I have every reason to think that if Zito manages the roster and assets well, the Panthers will be very hard to beat for a long time.

I think in the Atlantic it's very tough to tell who is going to be winning down the stretch. Tampa has been able to keep their window open a few seasons longer than anyone really thought, meanwhile Boston's slammed shut rather quickly. The Sens are starting to come around, the Wings have been close to making the playoffs for 2-3 years now, really just Buffalo is having trouble turning the corner.

I kind of think Tampa, Toronto, and Florida will probably be duking out the division for the next 2 or 3 years before a team on the upswing like Ottawa, Detroit, or Columbus bumps them out. Like Florida, Tampa does have their important pieces locked down for a long time, too, it's just a matter of building around them with the cap room.

I think Florida still has the edge but the Atlantic will really be a battle for the next couple of years.
Key players and term of the top 3 teams right now:

Florida
Barkov $10M thru 2030
Tkachuk $9.5M thru 2030
Reinhart $8.625M thru 2032
Lundell $5M thru 2030
Verhaeghe $7M thru 2033
Jones $7M thru 2030
Forsling $5.575M thru 2032
Kulikov $1.125M thru 2028
Boqvist, Luostarinen, Rodrigues thru 2028
Issues: Need to find goalie after next year, depth pieces will be a bit of a revolving door, some will price themselves out

Tampa
Kucherov $9.5M thru 2027
Point $9.5M thru 2030
Guentzel $9M thru 2031
Hagel $6.5M thru 2032
Cirelli $6.25M thru 2031
Bjorkstrand $5.4M thru 2026
Paul $3.125M thru 2029
Hedman $8M thru 2028
McDonagh $6.75M thru 2026
Cernak $5.2M thru 2031
Moser $3.375M thru 2027
Vasilevskiy $9.5M thru 2028
Issues: Need to extend Kucherov and find some new defenseman in a couple of seasons

Toronto
Matthews $13.25M thru 2028
Nylander $11.5M thru 2032
Domi $3.75M thru 2028
Kampf $2.75M thru 2027
Rielly $7.5M thru 2030
Tanev $4.5M thru 2030
Ekman-Larsson $3.5M thru 2028
Carlo $3.485M thru 2027
McCabe $4.51M thru 2030
Woll $3.66M thru 2027
Issues: Need to figure out what to do with Marner this offseason and Tavares next, not many forwards locked up longterm, Knies is due a payday next year, too.

In short, I think TB and FLA were very shrewd to lock down as many big names as they could under the "old cap" so that even if they fall out of contention their stars are on contracts that will be easy to trade and reclaim draft capital for. Both teams should be pretty darn good for the foreseeable future. Toronto has a lot of decisions on the horizon that will determine how far they go in the next few years.

 

[Summer Rose]

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

It's kind of hit and miss. We've seen plenty of examples of goaltenders playing at an elite level well into their late thirties, and sometimes into their early forties. He could very well be a guy who does it. On the other hand, for every goaltender we've seen keep playing at a very high level in the twilight of their careers, we've also seen plenty of them flame out as they get older. I'm not entirely certain any of that is age-related though. Depends on their style of play, I guess.

With skaters, on the other hand, it's a bit more concrete. Skaters slow down and lose a step that they had when they were younger. It makes a big difference and they pretty much universally have to adapt their style of play in order to continue being a productive player. For example, if your game relies on elite speed and agility, that's not going to be there for you anymore by the time you're 35 or so. It'll be interesting to see how a player whose speed and agility is a large part of their game adapts to aging, Connor McDavid being a prime example.

I'm kind of rambling and a little off topic so I'll shut up now.

 

[varsaku]

The weather/life style, cost of living, and lower taxes should be a major draw for players. They should have no shortage of interest from quality players especially now that they are good. This should have been their pitch from the start to ensure they constantly have a great team.

 

[Summer Rose]

The weather/life style, cost of living, and lower taxes should be a major draw for players. They should have no shortage of interest from quality players especially now that they are good. This should have been their pitch from the start to ensure they constantly have a great team.

That can also backfire on you if you aren't too careful about it (or have a team that's already good). The Coyotes had a mixed relationship with it, having most of those features (Arizona does have state income tax, but it's not very high). However, the team was shitty for many years and lacked the internal budget to chase big names, thanks in part to the constant ownership fiasco. The result of it all was that we had no trouble attracting often-lesser free agents who wanted to sign a contract and then mail it in while getting paid, because not many people actually cared.

 

[FinlandPanther]

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 guarantee you those players don’t lose a step at all for at least 4 years.

 

[Stealth JD]

I hope there’s an ESPN special to announce that McDavid is taking his talents to South Beach next summer.

 

[FinlandPanther]

I hope there’s an ESPN special to announce that McDavid is taking his talents to South Florida next summer.

I would I if I was him. Edmonton is run by idiots. They never go for a big splash to win with him.

 

[Machinehead]

Barkov is 29. Is this a guy that starts hitting the wall at 33, or is this one of those guys that's good forever? That's gonna be a big question, as it always is.

Either way, even if he does start going around 32, 33, that's still a few more years where they can contend, and Tkachuk is only 27.

You never know and I've been surprised plenty of times, but this looks like a team that's set up extremely well.

 

[Lshap]

I guarantee you those players don’t lose a step at all for at least 4 years.

I'll take that bet. Meet you back here in 2029.

 

[FinlandPanther]

I'll take that bet. Meet you back here in 2029.

Sounds good!

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

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

I can’t dispute that . I was kidding though.

 

[justHypnos]

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.

They earned that advantage? The only thing the panthers or any other similar team did to earn theirs was build an arena in a strategic location. I guess technically that’s earning an advantage but in a pretty lame way rather than by growing the game, league and their team in their city. It’s kind of like earning an advantage by taking PEDs rather than by training hard to get better (not referring to ekblad)

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

After 3-4 year run including the last two years, physically wearing down, having worse goaltending and becoming a playoff also-ran.

 

[My3Sons]

I guarantee you those players don’t lose a step at all for at least 4 years.

that's hard to predict. I'm sure all will do well but the team plays a rough and tumble style at times and all those playoff games will start to add up as guys get older. The team is in a great spot and will have tremendous success most likely but as always not all the players will be the best versions of themselves all the time. My brother and his family are in Coral Gables and are big Panthers fans and so I follow along. it's a fun team to watch and very impressive.

 

[FinlandPanther]

that's hard to predict. I'm sure all will do well but the team plays a rough and tumble style at times and all those playoff games will start to add up as guys get older. The team is in a great spot and will have tremendous success most likely but as always not all the players will be the best versions of themselves all the time. My brother and his family are in Coral Gables and are big Panthers fans and so I follow along. it's a fun team to watch and very impressive.

That’s fair. But I don’t think age is the determining factor. These guys are in tip top shape from Maurice.

 

[WarriorofTime]

They earned that advantage? The only thing the panthers or any other similar team did to earn theirs was build an arena in a strategic location.

Both teams "earned" whatever advantage geographic location provides them to about the same extent I'd say.

I guess technically that’s earning an advantage but in a pretty lame way rather than by growing the game, league and their team in their city.

Yeah idk to each their own, some might thing "largest market wins" is kind of "pretty lame" as well. I guess Yankee and Dodger fans would disagree.

 

[Sticksandsun]

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.

I think most, if not Panthers fans know we have a 5 year window left but I agree the peak is the next 2-3 years

 

[My3Sons]

That’s fair. But I don’t think age is the determining factor. These guys are in tip top shape from Maurice.

I agree. To me age is only part of the equation. Some will age better than others but my guess is wear and tear and injuries will be a much bigger factor in how long the core can achieve their top level of success.

 

[Laus723]

 

[caymanmew]

I guarantee you those players don’t lose a step at all for at least 4 years.

That is ridiculous, even if they maintained a high level(which not all stars do at that age), guys approaching their mid 30's are going to lose a step, it's just the reality.

Point me out a player who at 33/34 had managed to not lose a step at all. And you think your whole core is going to somehow magically have this happen?