I have a confession to make to you guys. In the last blog I mentioned how watching the WJC over the holidays was a good option to satisfy your hockey needs.
Well...I have to admit, I have never really watched the tournament. I don’t know why, but I have never been able to get into it. I always try and psyche myself up to watch but there’s ultimately no interest. A lot of the games feel more like you’re watching the Harlem Globetrotters, then tight, high-paced, back-and-forth action. Too many blowouts for me.
That being said, it looks like some of the Panthers prospects are doing pretty well for themselves.
Lundell is on a tear, Knight notched himself a shutout a couple nights ago and a number of other prospects are finding success.
Is this a good/accurate indicator of Florida’s future, or is it more a case of some of these guys being on strong teams in an unbalanced WJC? Maybe a little bit of both?
Personally, I think the true test is to see how these guys stack up when adjusting to the North American ice.
2021
We’re almost out of this strange year and right around the corner is the NHL season (finally).
The zambonis are gassed up, the decals are painted and waiting for the fresh ice to be laid over them, and new faces enter previously-forgein locker rooms. Speaking of which, tell me Gudas doesn’t look like the men’s league goon you hate playing against on a Tuesday night at 10PM:
The 2021 season is sure to be one for the ages. The condensed timeline and new divisions will bring heavy action frequently.
With the Hawks string of bad news (Nylander, Dach, and most recently Toews), on top of an already shaky goaltending situation, the Central may have opened up a bit more in the Cats favor.
I actually had Chicago as a surprise team heading into this season. Aside from the above mentioned goalie dilemma, I thought the blend of vets and some solid young guys coming up this season could be a curveball in the division - but then the injury news started coming in. Losing three top six guys is going to complicate things for them - and any team for that matter.
If the Hawks flounder, the main competition for Florida should be narrowed down to CAR, CBJ, DAL and TBL. Those are four tough teams, but if the Panthers actually come prepared for this season, I can see them being competitive with those four and earning a playoff spot.
The scary thing is that two of those teams were in the Cup finals last season and the other two (CAR, CBJ) are on the come-up. Not like a Panthers “this is their year to take the next step” kind of come-up, but Carolina and Columbus can legitimately take the next step and be very challenging to play against. All the more reason for the Panthers to have their overall game and mindset adjusted coming into this year.
Florida doesn’t have the luxury of superstar talent to rely on. In fact, the only two “stars” on this roster are Barky and Huby, and they sometimes struggle to be the game-breakers and difference-makers that they should be each night.
So Zito has started to build a team that will not rely on the oft-disappearing act of its stars, but, rather, hard work.
There’s no doubt about it (and many experts agree) that the Panthers (on paper) will be a tougher team to play against than in years past. I believe that will in fact translate off the paper and onto the ice.
Will they get into the playoffs?
It’s not like Florida is in rebuild mode. They’re in Purgatory. Not an ideal spot to be in, but one they can get out of through hard shifts and consistency. In my eyes, the blueline has improved and will be sturdy. I think this in turn will help Bob. And while a lot of people are nervous about the scoring “hole” with Mike “Mr. PTO “ Hoffman and Dadonov gone, I’m not really that concerned. Maybe I should be, but for some reason I’m not. I see newcomers like Duclair, Tippett, Hornqvist, etc. all helping out in the goals department, and, if they play better overall team defense, and are consistent (there’s that word again), they could realistically win some low-scoring/tight games.
Look, it would be awesome to have a roster that could load the opposition’s net with biscuits each night, but the reality is that Florida probably does not have that luxury. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have guys that can’t find the twine. Add to that a strengthened defensive corp and forward depth with some guys who can help out defensively, and this is an improved team that I can see winning games they would have lost last season.
The optimist in me sees the Panthers as a harder team to play against and one that can make the playoffs.
Why not?
Part of being a fan is expecting your team to perform. Sure, we have all been let down by the brutally by the Cats numerous times. We have vented that frustration regularly, but at the end of the day, a fresh season brings renewed hope.
Yes. They ended last season on an embarrassing effort. But it’s a new year. I’m going in with a new attitude. The Panthers will be too with a new GM, new faces and a new mindset and game plan.
“This is the way.”
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Happy New Year...Go Panthers!
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