After a strange delay, the trade that sent Mike Matheson and Colton Sceviour to Pittsburgh in exchange for Patric Hornqvist, was finally made official a couple days ago.
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I really like this move. It gets the Cats out from under Matheson's (brutal) contract - which still has six years left on it. But more importantly, I think it's Zito's first step in a plan that actually looks to build a Panthers DNA.
I have never tried to come off as an "expert" in my writing when it comes to the Panthers, the league, etc. As such, I will be honest and tell you that I didn't know much about Hornqvist, outside of him being a veteran and and a piece in the trade that sent James Neal to Nashville and Hornqvist to Pittsburgh.
The more I read about him and listen to Pittsburgh/hockey fans chiming in, the more I like the idea of Hornqvist in Florida.
I have no doubt this deal was done to move that Matheson anchor of a contract, but to also bring in a veteran presence that will hold guys accountable - including the "untouchables" like Barky, Huby, etc. Let's be honest, this whole roster can use a serious shot of intensity.
We have talked about it a lot lately, but this team is sorely missing an identity and passion - two things that have been devoid for years now.
Hornqvist comes to this team with a winning pedigree (two cups from PITT), and old school grinder approach, and a chip on his shoulder as a guy that was selected by the Predators with the last pick of 2005 draft. With odds against him, he had to work his way up to an NHL regular and I think that speaks volumes to his work ethic.
I like what PITT fans have to say about his character, and I'm excited to see a guy like him injected into a mentally (and physically) soft Panthers locker room. Not to mention, the guy can grow one helluva beard.
Missing Ingredient
The Cats have some serious missing ingredients throughout this lineup. Aside from the obvious defensive void, the offense is lacking a few things. One of the big ones is a guy(s) willing to go to the front of the net, take the beating that comes with working in close, in order to cause disruption and clean up rebounds, etc. There were so many times last year that the Cats would get pucks to the net, but there was no screen or commotion out front. They often helped make opposing goalies jobs a little easier.
Although older and away from his four time 20-goal seasons, Hornqvist still has the fire and intensity to play in front/around the goal mouth. Some have pointed out big decline in speed and inability to pass or set guys up. I'm OK with that. The Cats have enough guys willing to over-pass, they don't need another one. As long as he can get to the front of the net and work in that space and play tough, I'm happy with that.
Here is a writeup from Hooks Orpik of the Penguins SB Nation site regarding Hornqvist (via
Litter Box Cats. I especially love that first sentence in the second paragraph:
"Panthers fans are in for a treat with Patric Hornqvist heading to Florida. He’s a player that you might not have liked on other teams, but will quickly grow to love on your own. The guy is all heart, all energy, all emotion. He was the last pick of his draft year and literally worked his way to being a 30-goal NHL scorer at his peak, through hard work and the willingness to do absolutely anything to the echo of the whistle to make goalies and defensemens’ lives hell. He’s tenacious, competitive, no frills type of player. He’s going straight to the net, he’s firing the puck any time he can, he’s emptying the tank in every period of every game.
Hornqvist, in my opinion, is the best net-front presence in the NHL today. He will take the goalie’s eyes away, parking himself in the crease. At 5’11”, 190, he’s not big at all, but his sheer force of will makes him, if not an immovable object, a very stubborn one that will simply get right back in there at every opportunity. The Penguins’ power play was demonstrably better when Hornqvist played compared to the games he missed, and that is no coincidence. Hornqvist opens up more space for others. His presence can’t be denied and is very effective.
The worries are probably just how much he has left still to give. Hornqvist will be 34 on New Year’s Day, and players with his style and work ethic tend to have their bodies fail them before their spirit does. That’s been the case a little bit, especially in 2018-19 when he suffered multiple concussions, breaking a eight season streak (not counting lockout shortened year) of 20+ goals. He bounced back a bit in 2019-20 but by then had been moved off Pittsburgh’s top two lines and was only getting about 16 minutes a game. Hornqvist hasn’t topped 70 games played in four straight seasons (and missed enough time where he wouldn’t have even if the season wasn’t stopped), though he has pretty consistently played in about 70.
Durability may be a concern as he continues for his age 34-36 seasons. Effort and input never will be a concern. Hornqvist will help lead the team and is a bundle of tightly-wound energy that will be contagious. Hornqvist helped shake the Pens out of a malaise when he arrived in 2014. Every Pens’ fan will remember him scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal in 2017 in Game 6 against Nashville, while dealing with a badly broken finger that limited him to fourth line duties and then literally shaking on the bench and tearing up crying with emotion as the only release. The guy cares a lot, and while it’s a cliche to say he’s a “heart and soul” player, Hornqvist literally is the type of competitor who without a doubt will do anything possible to win. There aren’t too many players like Hornqvist in this world, he’s unique in a lot of ways and one that should be able to add a lot to any NHL team."
And for you numbers/stats nerds (haha):
Farewell to Matheson and Sceviour
Panthers fans will no longer have their whipping boy Mike Matheson to blame for what seemed like every issue Florida has.
Personally, I never disliked Matheson as much as others did. Yes, his contract was terrible, and didn't show consistency, but I always felt he took the brunt of a lot of the other overarching issues. I wouldn't be surprised if a change of scenery changed his game.
As for Sceviour, I liked his play, but he was expendable to me, and played the "sweetner" (if you want to call it that) role in this trade for Pittsburgh. A decent bottom six guy that has some two-way ability in his arsenal.
Good luck to both guys.
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This is probably just the tip of the iceberg of moves Zito will make (at least I hope). So I'm looking forward to seeing what else he has up his sleeve...
Go Panthers!
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