How many more cups does Florida win within the next 5 years?

[pb1300]

Bitter post. I said nothing that most others didn't say.

You sound cocky now because your team just won, but the bounces don't go your way every year. Hockey is hard. Maybe you will be humbled when this year is up and understand that.

I sound cocky because we won? I have been a hockey fan for 40 years, and was a season ticket holder for the Panthers for 10 years, when they were one of the worst franchises in sports, so I know quite well about bounces and being humbled.

The Panthers have been one of the best teams in the league over the past few seasons, have the best management in the league, one of the best coaching staffs in the league, the best top 9 in the league, cap space becoming more available to fill in some pieces over the next few seasons, and the core is under 30, with no player making over $10 million per. Their core players will be making what 3rd liners will be making in a few years. Those are facts, not being cocky.

Can they lose, absolutely, nobody is invincible, but they have positioned themselves better than any team in the league, to win at least 1 cup in the next 5 years, which is the subject of this thread.

 

[Regal]

That is normally correct, but Zito has positioned the Panthers to be a top team for the rest of the decade. Most of the core forwards are signed for all under $10 million per, money will come off the books soon, and Zito will have the cap space and draft picks to make the moves required to shore up the defense, and add whats necessary up front.

The team is certainly set up well to be really good for the next 5 years or so, as long as Knight can take over for Bob or they find a replacement. The thing is, you can be the team with the best odds of winning the cup for 5 years and still come away empty. Where I think the cap hurts these teams is you can’t just throw money at guys who aren’t overly necessary to really separate the team from the pack like old Detroit teams did

 

[pb1300]

The team is certainly set up well to be really good for the next 5 years or so, as long as Knight can take over for Bob or they find a replacement. The thing is, you can be the team with the best odds of winning the cup for 5 years and still come away empty. Where I think the cap hurts these teams is you can’t just throw money at guys who aren’t overly necessary to really separate the team from the pack like old Detroit teams did

Oh absolutely, nothing is a given.

Florida was a WC team who backed in to the playoffs with a Pittsburgh loss to Chicago, and made it to the Finals.

The year prior, they were the President trophy winners, who got caught up with Vasi in Tampa. nothing is ever guaranteed.

What you say though with the cap, does not relate to the Panthers IMO. Tallon is not running the team anymore. Zito isnt handing out 5x5 contracts to guys like Dave Bolland. Every Panthers Zito has re-signed is either a superstar, or a critical part of the top six and Dline. Not one deal can be questioned.

And they have all signed for well below the market value, which is what will keep the Panthers window open for the rest of the decade. This isnt the Leafs. If the Panthers get Bennett re-signed at around the $6 million mark, you are talking about their top 8 forwards signed for around $51 million.

There are pieces needed to be added on defense, and upgrades always may be needed down the line, but with Zito setting the team up the way he has financially, it will be easier for him to add those pieces.

 

[bobholly39]

Zero.

Better question is - how many rounds of playoffs they win in the next 5 years. I'm leaning towards same answer, but could be talked up to 1.

 

[pb1300]

Zero.

Better question is - how many rounds of playoffs they win in the next 5 years. I'm leaning towards same answer, but could be talked up to 1.

Biggest closet Panthers fan in the history of this board. This post above couldnt make me happier!

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Voted 1.

The East is growing pretty weak overall.
Tampa getting old. Boston getting old. Toronto a perennial fraud and pretender.

Florida is a character team. You can ride character a long distance...if you're lucky enough.

The question will be who do they face in the conference and SC finals?

 

[Crow]

Maybe 1, probably zero.

Feel like they need to add on defense. They might be able to.

 

[Auston Marlander]

Math and logic say 0. But I'll go with 1, they are a really good team.

 

[SimpleJack]

I think they make it to one more but lose.

 

[ijuka]

0, chances are

 

[Coffee]

@pb1300 I voted 3

 

[Nogatco Rd]

That is normally correct, but Zito has positioned the Panthers to be a top team for the rest of the decade. Most of the core forwards are signed for all under $10 million per, money will come off the books soon, and Zito will have the cap space and draft picks to make the moves required to shore up the defense, and add whats necessary up front.

So what did you vote?

 

[pb1300]

So what did you vote?

I voted 2.

@pb1300 I voted 3

We got ours in my lifetime, so anything else is a bonus to me. I can rest a happy man now.

 

[Coffee]

I voted 2.



We got ours in my lifetime, so anything else is a bonus to me. I can rest a happy man now.

I’m glad my brother

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Tampa, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and LA all did it within the last 15 years. Doesn't seem that farfetched to me.

True, “just one cup” teams like Colorado and Washington have been in the minority within that time frame

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I'd be very happy with one more. More than that would be euphoric.

 

[Machinehead]

I would think they're gonna get one more. It's hard to win the Finals, but they have absolutely no competition in the East right now.

The Rangers will lose to the first good team they play. So will Carolina. Boston's a joke. Toronto's a joke. Who's stopping Florida in the East? Maybe Tampa? They're kind of old.

Unless the Devils really step up, the Panthers have a bye to the Finals this year.

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

I'd say one more. The core is locked up on good deals and the cap is going up to add some nice pieces.. plus they're play style is great for playoffs. I also think they're on another tier right now then anyone else in the east.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I said 1. If it's 2 or more I'd be over the moon.
But I think 1 is relatively likely due to the play style of the team, management, coaching, and the core is still all in their 20's, it's not like they're old. Plus I'm not overly concerned about age as guys like Barkov, Reino, Forsling, are known fitness freaks plus their cerebral games should age well. Bob is as well, so he could remain a top goalie for a couple more years at least. Also, Tkachuk is only 26, Luostarinen is 25, and Lundell is 22. There's also some decent young forwards coming up in Samoskevich, Sawchyn, St.Martin, Devine, McAllister, even if they're not widely heralded among the rest of the league. Panthers fans are pretty excited about our forward prospects. The forward group really shouldn't show much age for the next few years, except for maybe Bennett, should he be re-signed. The 2 major factors imo are:

1) The goaltending. Will Bob leave Florida in two years, and will he remain a big time playoff goalie past another year or two? Will Knight successfully follow him, or another goalie they bring in? This is one of the biggest variables.

2) How Zito address the blueline over the next several years. The defense pipeline is pretty thin, even though some guys like Alscher, Hovorka, Benning, Shuravin have modest potential. We also lack a real bonafide RD prospect that's taller than 5'9". Last season the Panthers had a great top 6 of Forsling, Ekblad, Mikkola, Montour, OEL, Kulikov. Two of them are gone and they are all a year older. Schmidt and Balinskis have come in and played solidly, Balinskis is even QBing a top 5 pp right now. Kulikov has really stepped up in a top 4:this season and is playing well above his expected level. Boqvist is ok, his D needs a lot of work though. Kuli and Schmidt will age out quickly. Zito has to find a way to keep the blueline solid as we move forward. He has to re-sign Ek or find a replacement, but he also likely needs to add more pieces as well. Forsling should age like fine wine and his cap hit is only 5.75 for 8 more years, so that helps

All in all, Zito is positioned well as the cap will go up, and he has his entire core locked up long-term to sweetheart contracts. In a couple years, contracts to Barkov, Forsling, Reinhart etc. will seem like jokes. He has great support from ownership, probably the best pro scouting team in the league, and lots of wiggle room. The NHL playoffs can be cruel though, and luck factors in almost as much as talent sometimes. We'll see. Florida should at least be very competitive over the next 5 years though.