Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Ready to take next step?
Panthers enter season with significant optimism after hot finish last year, return of Barkov, Trocheck, Huberdeau
If you travel down the Sawgrass Expressway and make your way to the BB&T Center, you’ll come to a realization that may not be very surprising in the next few months — the Panthers could be the best professional team in South Florida.
After a slow start to last season, Florida was scorching hot in the second half, finishing 25-8-2 for a leaguebest 52 points after the All-Star Break. The team missed the playoffs by just one point, finishing with 96.
With the bulk of its talented, young core returning, there’s significant reason for optimism as the Panthers kick off the regular season on Saturday night in Tampa before Thursday’s home opener.
Here are five things to keep an eye on as the NHL season gets underway:
Can the Panthers continue their torrid second-half pace?
This is the big question. Last season, the Cats struggled to a 19-22-6 start under first-year coach Bob Boughner, but after the
All-Star Break, things began to click as the team became familiar with Boughner’s new schemes. In training camp, the 47-year-old has said there have been fewer questions and that players seem more comfortable than where they were a year ago when they were learning new concepts. That familiarity and growing confidence could pay major dividends this year.
Who’s new?
Two of the most notable offseason acquisitions have been veteran forwards Mike Hoffman and Troy Brouwer. An explosive left-handed shooter, Hoffman tallied 56 points last season for the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old, who the Panthers picked up in a trade, should figure prominently on the team’s second line.
A 33-year-old forward with 763 career games under his belt, Brouwer was added to provide veteran depth to the squad. The 6-foot-3 forward, who signed a oneyear contract with the Panthers, last played in Calgary, totaling 22 points. He was also a member of the 2010 Stanley Cupchampion Chicago Blackhawks, which was led by Panthers president of hockey operations Dale Tallon.
Can Aleksander Barkov continue his ascension to the top?
One of the key elements going for the Panthers is they have one of the league’s top players. The 23-year-old forward is coming off a career-best year after scoring 78 points (27 goals, 51 assists) and earning All-Star Game honors. He also finished third for the Frank J. Selke Trophy — handed out to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.
Barkov, who was named team captain, has also begun to receive national praise after previously skating under the radar. NHL.com listed him as the 33rd-best player in the league and the 10th-best player 23 or younger. Some of his teammates have gone as far to say he’s a top-three player. At just 23, the sky seems to be the limit for him and if continues to grow, Florida will be tough to stop.
Dominant second line
Part of the Panthers’ secondhalf surge can be attributed to the emergence of its stellar second line. After mixing up its lines, Florida finished 25-9-2 in its final 36 games with Vincent Trocheck at center, Jonathan Huberdeau roaming left and Denis Malgin and Jamie McGinn alternating at right.
With Hoffman complementing Trocheck (75 points last season) and Huberdeau (69), the Panthers could boast one of the league’s most explosive offensives with a stacked top-six.
How many games can Roberto Luongo play in net?
Entering his 19th NHL season — and 11th with Florida — Luongo has been one of the league’s pre-eminent goaltenders over the years. The veteran, who turns 40 in April, has played 1,001 career games, but how many will he compete in this year?
After playing at least
60+ games from 2014-16, he’s appeared in 40 and 35 games since. Backup
James Reimer played in 44 contests last year for the Panthers.
Boughner said in an ideal world, Luongo would play in 50 games this year. While he was limited to 35 games last year, Luongo was still sharp in net. His save percentage of .929 was the second-highest of his career and his goalsagainst average of 2.47 was slightly better than his career average of 2.49.