Three Reasons This Is the Florida Panthers Year for the Stanley Cup
The Florida Panthers have not been to the Stanley Cup finals since the 1995-96 season, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. Since that heartbreaking finish, the Panthers have only made the playoffs six times since then – now seven after clinching their playoff bid yesterday.
During that span, the Panthers have slowly recovered and started building a contender with the right pieces on the ice, but more importantly, getting those right pieces behind the bench and in the front office.
The success of the Panthers began in past drafts, with Aaron Ekblad, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Alexander Barkov coming aboard to make this team a dangerous one, but a threatening one as well.
The Panthers have come full circle and are now a top-flight contending team that is fun to watch and should be taken seriously. General manager Bill Zito has brought in some key, important pieces for a lengthy playoff run. Coach Andrew Brunette has got this team focused and driven to accomplish anything in its path.
The team is deeper and more talented than any other team in the Eastern Conference. Other than the Colorado Avalanche they are loaded from top to bottom and are a hard team to play against because of their speed.
This is the best team in the franchise’s history and they look to be a force to be reckoned with once the playoffs start. This team is scary good and has all of the tools to be raising Lord Stanley once all is said and done. The Panthers have few holes on their roster, one that is not done with showing people they are for real.
Below are three reasons this is going to be the year the Florida Panthers rise above the rest and hoist the ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup.
One: The Florida Panthers’ electric offense.
The offense goes through Jonathan Huberdeau and Alex Barkov. Huberdeau is a Hart Trophy candidate, recording 90 points so far this season on 21 goals and 69 assists, while boasting a +25, 1.38 points per game, and 29 power-play points.
Barkov has also contributed as well, recording 28 goals and 36 assists for 64 points, followed by Sam Reinhart and his 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points. Defensively, without the services of Aaron Ekblad, Mackenzie Weegar has led the charge, scoring 6 goals and 29 assists for 35 points.
The offense has 14 players with 20 or more points, showing offensive consistency throughout the lineup. The Panthers are first in goals scored with 261 goals and first overall in goals per game with an average of 4.02. The power play, which boasts the first unit of five forwards, is clicking at a rate of 23.4%, which is tenth in the league.
The depth scoring is so scary on this team that the third-leading scorer is playing on the third line. Florida also ranks second in the league in shorthanded goals with 9 and the Panthers as a whole are fourth in shooting % at 10.9%.
Two: The Florida Panthers’ hard-hitting defense.
The Panther’s defense is not as offensive as one might think it should be but they supply the lack of offense with hard-hitting defense and some grit.
With star defenseman Ekblad gone with an injury others have had to step up, with Weegar taking on a bigger role than he is used to, adjusting well to the additional pressure. General manager Zito thought the defense needed a bit of an upgrade and succeeded in bringing in two defensemen that will help this group down the stretch and in the playoffs.
This group of defensemen does not have a single player who is a Norris Trophy favorite, however, they do have a solid group that will add a bit of offense but their game is tight physical defense.
This is a defense that is capable of winning multiple Cups for the Panthers, priding themselves on playoff-type hockey throughout the year. The Panthers’ defense is tenth in goals-against (187) and has a penalty kill success rate of 79.6%. The defense is a big reason why the Panthers are eighth in the league with 634 penalty minutes.
The defense also consists of goaltenders, Sergei Bobrovsky, and rookie Spencer Knight. Bobrovsky has bounced back big time after a rough 2020-21 season, posting a record of 31-6-3, 105 goals against, .916 save %, and a 2.56 GAA. The 20-year-old Knight has also contributed in his rookie campaign, going 13-8 with a .904 save % and a 2.94 GAA. This duo has combined for a GAA of just 2.88.
Three: The Trade Deadline Reinforcements.
General manager Bill Zito knew this team was good but wanted to add depth for a playoff run. Although no major pieces left the organization Zito did bring in some major pieces that will make a difference come playoff time.
He brought in veteran forward Claude Giroux from the Philadelphia Flyers, defenseman Ben Chiarot from the Montreal Canadians, and defenseman Robert Hagg from the Buffalo Sabres. Giroux is a well-rounded player that has the experience and can still produce offensively.
Chiarot and Hagg are big defensemen that come with a defense-first attitude and play a physical game. Although the offense is not part of Chiarot and Hagg’s game they make up for that by clearing the crease, aggressive penalty kills and making life uneasy for the opposition.
All three additions have played three games with Giroux having the most success, producing four assists and Chiarot and Hagg both recording one assist each.
The Florida Panthers are third overall in the league with 94 points and second with a .723 points %. The Panthers are outstanding at home, going 26-6 but are also good on the road with an 18-9-6 record. Florida has a goal differential of +73 and is 7-2-1 in their last 10.
Against the Eastern Conference, they have a record of 25-6-0-3. This Florida team is fast, deep, aggressive, and talented from top to bottom. Keep your eye on the Panthers as they look to capture their first Stanley Cup in this year’s playoffs.
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