After narrowly missing out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2017-18, Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers appear ready to take the next step.
The Florida Panthers have been searching for consistency ever since they became a franchise. They’ve only made the postseason five times and four of those times, they lost in the first round. After narrowly missing out on making the postseason with an unbelievable finish, the Panthers are on the path to greatness thanks to Aleksander Barkov.
A slow start to last season (19-22-6 before the All-Star Break) negated an unbelievable run in the second half (25-8-2 after the All-Star Break). The Panthers early struggles can be attributed to getting used to their new coach and system. But once they got going, they were one of the most entertaining teams in the league.
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Barkov had a breakout year. The eternally underrated center finally did what it took to ensure he wouldn’t be underrated anymore. Vincent Trocheck had his best season and Jonathan Huberdeau was outstanding as well.
After a busy offseason, the Panthers appear ready to ensure the Metropolitan Division doesn’t get two wild-card spots.
Offseason Recap
Additions: F Mike Hoffman, F Troy Brouwer, F Mark Letestu (PTO), G Michael Hutchinson
Departures: G Harri Sateri, F Radim Vrbata, F Connor Brickley, F Chase Balisy
Hoffman is the crown jewel of the Panthers’ offseason. The Panthers had five really good top six forwards, but couldn’t find a good sixth one. Hoffman should serve in that role. He has off the ice issues tied to his fiance, but the Panthers are in the position to take a calculated risk on a guy capable of putting pucks in the net.
Brouwer and Letestu should fight for spots on the fourth line. But with a number of internal options, their roster spots are not set in stone. Hutchinson should be a quality depth goaltender, potentially filling in at the NHL level if he needs to.