Thoughts at the 1/3rd mark?

kerrabria

Registered User
May 3, 2018
4,006
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During the first three weeks of the season, I watched a lot of the Panthers and other games around the NHL. But other than boxscore watching, I haven't been following the team or the league since then.

Now that we're post-Thanksgiving, in the meat of the season, and have a good sample size even for players who have missed games with injuries, does anybody care to share their big takeaways so far? A couple of questions on my mind:
  • How do Lundell, Luostarinen, and Samoskevich look?
  • Has Tkachuk taken another step back, as his stat line indicates?
  • Is Reinhart firmly our second best player now? Looks like he's the frontrunner for Florida's team Hart, Lindsay, Rocket, Art Ross, and even Selke
I also welcome any other thoughts on players and teams league-wide too.
 

ShootIt

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Nov 8, 2008
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Kulikov is tied at #1 in our hearts and for goals by defensemen on the team.

Lundell is at a 0.8PPG clip, something that is great to see early on. Great improvement offensively.
Loustar has been more noticeable offensively.
Glad to see both out of the last year funk.
I like what I'm seeing out of Samo. Still needs time, but his speed and shot can be deadly if he can continue to progress.

I haven't really noticed Chucky all that much this year. Stat wise, at a 0.95ppg, he's doing well, but maybe that sternum and lack of offseasons is taking a longer way to get back from?
Have missed the past few games due to timing/holidays.

Reinhart is definitely #2, borderline 1b. Just a complete 200ft player with a shot that hasn't cooled down(knocks on wood).

Nice to see Bennett be at a 0.5GPG average, not nice it's in his contract year. a few empty netters bump it up but he's been more noticeable offensively to me.

Swaggy being at Gudbranson levels of +/- is interesting. Know he's no defensive stalwart but at -16 he's -9 below the next group of guys.

Overall, the team is in very good shape. Think they will try to address the blueline depth/starters at the TDL, as I don't think they want to rely on Balls and Boqvist in the playoffs every night-minus injuries of course.
 

ucanthanzalthetruth

#CatsAreChamps
Jul 13, 2013
28,679
34,573
Team's good. Team's played a lot of hockey. Bob looks kinda mid so far but not really worried. Overall I think the amount of hockey played will be Florida's downfall, but no team in the East scares me? Like all of Dallas, Edmonton, Vegas, and Avs I could see easily beating Florida but no one in the East would I consider Florida an underdog against. I think it's just too much wear and tear that will kill them. There's not even really a need except for top 4 dman to bump Kuli down but that can wait until TDL. If there was just a way to give everyone 2 months off during the season I think they'd have an excellent shot at a 3rd straight Finals appearance.
 

Idiot Stick

Youre back on the case Bobrovsky!
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Oct 22, 2023
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You Got, Florida
Were 10th in the standings and 1 place out of 1st in the atlantic with a bunch of new blood and the team obviously coasting some games, and when were on our game, were ON

Current mood:
449089330_868270685348683_2066729937218381907_n.jpg
 

austropanther

Registered User
Jul 21, 2015
3,049
2,967
Bregenz
Kulikov is tied at #1 in our hearts and for goals by defensemen on the team.

Lundell is at a 0.8PPG clip, something that is great to see early on. Great improvement offensively.
Loustar has been more noticeable offensively.
Glad to see both out of the last year funk.
I like what I'm seeing out of Samo. Still needs time, but his speed and shot can be deadly if he can continue to progress.

I haven't really noticed Chucky all that much this year. Stat wise, at a 0.95ppg, he's doing well, but maybe that sternum and lack of offseasons is taking a longer way to get back from?
Have missed the past few games due to timing/holidays.

Reinhart is definitely #2, borderline 1b. Just a complete 200ft player with a shot that hasn't cooled down(knocks on wood).

Nice to see Bennett be at a 0.5GPG average, not nice it's in his contract year. a few empty netters bump it up but he's been more noticeable offensively to me.

Swaggy being at Gudbranson levels of +/- is interesting. Know he's no defensive stalwart but at -16 he's -9 below the next group of guys.

Overall, the team is in very good shape. Think they will try to address the blueline depth/starters at the TDL, as I don't think they want to rely on Balls and Boqvist in the playoffs every night-minus injuries of course.
Filling in for MT who was absolutely fantastic in the CAR mini-series. One of the main reasons Necas was basically invisible, and he still has an amazing offensive Vision setting up several PPG for the forward to tap into an empty net
 

Gentle Man

09/12
Nov 15, 2011
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Team's good. Team's played a lot of hockey. Bob looks kinda mid so far but not really worried. Overall I think the amount of hockey played will be Florida's downfall, but no team in the East scares me? Like all of Dallas, Edmonton, Vegas, and Avs I could see easily beating Florida but no one in the East would I consider Florida an underdog against. I think it's just too much wear and tear that will kill them. There's not even really a need except for top 4 dman to bump Kuli down but that can wait until TDL. If there was just a way to give everyone 2 months off during the season I think they'd have an excellent shot at a 3rd straight Finals appearance.
well. They didnt really play during the 5 game losing streak.

And I suspect they will take more vacations through the season. They will be fine lol
 

Sticksandsun

Registered User
Mar 11, 2015
2,108
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Bob should only play 40 games this year and let Knight take the reigns a bit more, Zito needs to see what he can do.
I still have high hopes Knight can be the #1 by the start of next year but unsure if Bob is back. Wonder if Zito will maybe pull some LTIR magic with him? (Assuming Bob comes back for another year or two [$4-5 mil per] after his deal and stays with organization after retiring)

Beyond impressed with Lundell and Samoskevich, we need more drafted graduates on defense IMO.
Samoskevich makes Rodrigues a little expendable this offseason.
$3 mil in cap savings helps pay for Bennett's raise.

Schmidt, Greer, JB and even Nosek have been solid depth adds.

I don't really worry or question Tkachuk, the guy played through extreme amount of pain.
First 10 GP: 4 goals, 10 pts
Last 10 GP: 1 goal, 9 pts

I think his days of scoring 40 are done but he's still shown the ability to go PPG+ for stretches in regular season and playoffs.
Most of us would have been happy if he got 30+ goals and 90 or so points along with his intangibles.

As for Reinhart, it's hard to argue against it being the best VALUE deal Zito ever did.
A late 1st + Levi is insane to think about when factoring in the new levels of success Sam has reached.

Can't believe how many players seem to come to Florida and just explode offensively or take their games to new heights. If the drafting and developing can churn out a couple NHL players every other year, this Cup window is open for another 5 years.
 

Dread Clawz

LAWSonic Boom
Nov 25, 2006
28,081
10,088
Pennsylvania
Bob should only play 40 games this year and let Knight take the reigns a bit more, Zito needs to see what he can do.
I still have high hopes Knight can be the #1 by the start of next year but unsure if Bob is back. Wonder if Zito will maybe pull some LTIR magic with him? (Assuming Bob comes back for another year or two [$4-5 mil per] after his deal and stays with organization after retiring)

Beyond impressed with Lundell and Samoskevich, we need more drafted graduates on defense IMO.
Samoskevich makes Rodrigues a little expendable this offseason.
$3 mil in cap savings helps pay for Bennett's raise.

Schmidt, Greer, JB and even Nosek have been solid depth adds.

I don't really worry or question Tkachuk, the guy played through extreme amount of pain.
First 10 GP: 4 goals, 10 pts
Last 10 GP: 1 goal, 9 pts

I think his days of scoring 40 are done but he's still shown the ability to go PPG+ for stretches in regular season and playoffs.
Most of us would have been happy if he got 30+ goals and 90 or so points along with his intangibles.

As for Reinhart, it's hard to argue against it being the best VALUE deal Zito ever did.
A late 1st + Levi is insane to think about when factoring in the new levels of success Sam has reached.

Can't believe how many players seem to come to Florida and just explode offensively or take their games to new heights. If the drafting and developing can churn out a couple NHL players every other year, this Cup window is open for another 5 years.

Barky, Reino, and Forsling are all fitness freaks. That's what keeps our window open for awhile imo. Tkachuk is only 26. If Devine comes in soon and adds some young legs next to Samo, we're good. Alscher looks to be developing well, hopefully he can work his way into the mix soon, I'm thinking in 26-27. Another big Mikkola-like defender. We just have to figure out the goaltending over the next year or two.
 
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Sticksandsun

Registered User
Mar 11, 2015
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Barky, Reino, and Forsling are all fitness freaks. That's what keeps our window open for awhile imo. Tkachuk is only 26. If Devine comes in soon and adds some young legs next to Samo, we're good. Alscher looks to be developing well, hopefully he can work his way into the mix soon, I'm thinking in 26-27. Another big Mikkola-like defender. We just have to figure out the goaltending over the next year or two.

Ya my thinking is Rodrigues replaced by Samoskevich and Luostarinen replaced by Devine at some point?
 

Sticksandsun

Registered User
Mar 11, 2015
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I hope we keep Luosty, even if he's on the 4th. He's so important to what we do . We have the cap to play him on the 4th, or just play Devine on the 4th.

Ya I think we will keep Luostarinen until he's got a year left but Devine is still a couple years away from becoming a 3rd line threat anyhow.

Rodrigues I would move this offseason if both Ekblad and Bob stay next year.
Samoskevich can grow into a middle 6 guy sooner than later
 

Dread Clawz

LAWSonic Boom
Nov 25, 2006
28,081
10,088
Pennsylvania
Ya I think we will keep Luostarinen until he's got a year left but Devine is still a couple years away from becoming a 3rd line threat anyhow.

Rodrigues I would move this offseason if both Ekblad and Bob stay next year.
Samoskevich can grow into a middle 6 guy sooner than later

We might have to move Rod, depends on the playoffs. For Bob too. Lot of interesting decisions to be made.
 

IdleTraveller

Registered User
Mar 30, 2024
277
568
London, UK
Interesting article from The Athletic ranking teams on cap situation. I was surprised to see that we were ranked 4th overall, with the 14th best projected cap space for next year ($21m).



4. Florida Panthers

2025-26 salaries: $72 million
RFAs estimate: Minimal
Dead money: None

Notable UFAs: Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett
Projected cap space: $21 million (14th)

Biggest decision: Can they keep the band together beyond this season?

The Panthers are coming off a championship and have most of their core on reasonable contracts, well into the future. Getting Ekblad back feels like a wise decision, given he’s somehow still only 28 and has been a franchise fixture forever. Bennett, meanwhile, is in the process of driving his UFA contract to the moon with the season he’s having, so it’s possible he’s a cap casualty depending on how high the number gets.

Florida may not have a single bad contract on the books to a skater, but has committed nearly $15 million to its goaltenders and currently has the third worst save percentage in the NHL. The Panthers have missed Anthony Stolarz’s stabilizing presence this season behind Sergei Bobrovsky, who turns 37 next fall and may need to be in more of a tandem role to preserve him for the postseason. Perhaps Spencer Knight, 23, can continue to grow into that role and assume more starts going forward.
 

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