Top 3 moves the Florida Panthers must make after being eliminated
Here are some moves the Florida Panthers need to make after losing to the New York Islanders in the play-in round.
Last summer, the Florida Panthers made several huge moves to try to change the culture. First, they hired three-time Stanley Cup champion Joel Quenneville to be their head coach. Next, the Panthers made several huge moves in free agency, signing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, among others. Those moves made it clear that making the playoffs was expected.
Though the Panthers made the play-in round against the New York Islanders, they were completely outplayed and outclassed. They got eliminated in four games. Clearly not what the Panthers were expecting after investing so much into their team.
After once again falling short of their ultimate goal, expect some changes in Florida. Here’s a look at three moves the Panthers should make.
1. Avoid Re-Signing Mike Hoffman
On paper, re-signing Mike Hoffman, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the start of the offseason, would be a smart choice. He has scored 65 goals with 129 points in his two seasons with the Panthers. Hoffman was also a difference-maker against the Islanders, scoring three goals in four games. He’s earned a nice raise.
However, the Panthers would be smart to avoid being the team who gives him it. First of all, Hoffman’s over 30 years old. Signing him to a long-term deal would be risky. Secondly, his best years are probably behind him. Thirdly, when Hoffman’s not scoring goals, he struggles to make an impact.
Let some other team pay Hoffman. And Evgeni Dadonov, for that matter. Neither are worth overpaying. The Panthers have a bit of cap space and they should be using it to extend guys like MacKenzie Weegar, who’s a restricted free agent. If there’s enough money left over, give Dadonov a three-year deal. But Hoffman shouldn’t be a top priority at this point. There’s simply too much risk involved with him. The Panthers should be targetting younger players.
Owen Tippett could slot into Hoffman’s spot. Much like Hoffman, he’s a goal scorer. Unlike Hoffman, Tippett could be a terrific bargain for the Panthers, as he has the potential to be an impactful goal scorer as a rookie on his entry-level deal.
2. Trade Mike Matheson
One of Dale Tallon‘s biggest mistakes is Mike Matheson‘s extension. He signed the then-young defenseman just after the start of his second season. Tallon, based on a decent, but not stellar, rookie season, decided to give Matheson an eight-year deal worth $4.875 million annually. It should be noted Tallon could have waited until after Matheson’s second season.
Two seasons into the deal (it started during the 2018-19 season), he has been a healthy scratch in the postseason for the Panthers. And deservedly so after posting eight penalty minutes in the first two games in the series against the Islanders. It has become clear that Matheson is no longer a good fit with the Panthers.
A quick dive into his underlying stats raises several red flags. First of all, Matheson doesn’t really produce. Over the past two seasons, he’s averaging 0.96 points per hour at 5v5. Among the 108 defensemen with at least 2,000 5v5 minutes over the past two seasons, that puts him 46th. If you’re getting paid almost $5 million a year as a defenseman, you better be able to make an impact.
Secondly, while production isn’t the only way a defenseman can make an impact, Matheson doesn’t make it in other areas either. In each of the past two seasons, the Panthers have allowed more shot attempts, shots on goal, scoring chances, and goals when he’s on the ice. Matheson doesn’t make an impact as far as driving offense, either.
Sometimes, you need to cut bait with a bad move before it becomes a terrible move. That’s why the Panthers should trade Matheson this offseason. He still has some value now, which might not be the case later on.
3. Fire Dale Tallon
It’s remarkable how long of a leash the Florida Panthers have given Dale Tallon. I wouldn’t trust my very well-behaved dog with a leash that long, let alone a front office executive with a history of making bad decisions.
Tallon arrived to the Panthers in 2010. Since then, they have made the postseason just three times (twice if you don’t want to call the play-in round the postseason). Tallon has done far more bad than good for the Panthers.
Lately, though, Tallon has been especially bad. He’s not the general manager anymore, but recent moves suggest he still has a lot of power over the organization. The Sergei Bobrovsky contract reeks of Tallon. They needed a goaltender, Bobrovsky was the sexiest name available, and Tallon set his sights on him.
Tallon has had more than enough time to build a contender with the Panthers. He hasn’t drafted that well. Nor has he made smart free agency decisions. Tallon has done fairly well in trades, but the good barely outweighs the bad there.
Top 3 Reasons Panthers Should Fire Tallon. dark. Next
Every year, Panthers fans have to wonder what’s wrong with their team. Tallon has made a number of changes, but they remain stuck in mediocrity or just barely above mediocrity. It’s time for the Florida Panthers to let go of Tallon.