Retired Hornqvist is still helping Panthers
As Sam Bennett entered the final stages of his rehab for a lower-body injury he sustained late in the preseason, the Florida Panthers center found himself going up against a familiar presence.
The person testing Bennett to make sure he was 100 percent ready to go: Former teammate and NHL veteran Patric Hornqvist.
“He was leaning on the guys that needed to get leaned on,” Bennett said. “He’s been around the game for a long time, so he knows as well as anyone what guys need.”
Hornqvist’s playing days are over. He retired this offseason after a 15-year career, the final three of which were with the Panthers.
But Hornqvist isn’t one to stay away from the ice.
The 36-year-old exforward and two-time Stanley Cup champion is now a member of the Panthers’ hockey operations department, his official title a scouting and development consultant.
But Hornqvist is also moonlighting as an extra hand for the Panthers’ coaching staff, working with the group of injured players separate from the main group as they ramp up their on-ice activities before being cleared to join the main group.
“I truly think he could play in a game. That’s how fit this guy is,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “He does a bunch of things for us. He’s working in management now and does a little bit of scouting, but what he is also great at is he can push players rehabbing better than anybody because he has his equipment on and he’s as fit as anybody there.
“If you can’t keep up to a retired player,” Maurice continued, “you’ve got some work to do.”
The group that Hornqvist has worked with so far has primarily been four players — Bennett, forward Jonah Gadjovich, and defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour. They generally get their work in before the main group practices each day and are off the ice by the time the main practice begins.
“As the drills amp up, there’s a little bit of bumping that can go on,” Maurice said. “A coach can’t do that and sometimes another player can’t do that. So you need a guy who knows how hard to push along the wall. He’s spent his whole life on the wall, so he knows those battles.”
Bennett and Gadjovich have since joined the main practice sessions, but both are quick to acknowledge what Hornqvist’s presence has meant.
“He’s one of the most intense hockey players
I’ve ever played with,” Bennett said. “He brings that intensity when he’s coaching as well. It’s nice having someone that you played with and you’re comfortable with. You can talk to him and tell him what kind of drills you need. He understands that. He’s not afraid to work as hard and that’s definitely what we need, so it’s great.”
Added Gadjovich: “He pushes it out there. That’s what we need when we’re trying to get that conditioning up and get healthy again.”
It’s just the latest way — even after his playing career ended — that Hornqvist is making an impact with the Panthers.
Hornqvist was Bill Zito’s first acquisition with the Panthers after becoming general manager three years ago, getting the veteran in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Mike Matheson and Colton Sceviour on Sept. 24, 2020.
Hornqvist primarily played fourth-line minutes and tallied 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) over 131 games with Florida, but his impact extended beyond his production on the ice. He was a vocal presence in the dressing room, a veteran helping provide guidance and perspective for a youngyet-talented Panthers core. He pushed his teammates to elevate their game — and in the process upped his own game as well.
“It’s just my way to get into games, make sure I’m ready and make sure my teammates are ready, too,” Hornqvist said in the early stages of his first year with Florida. “We all have different personalities and you have to bring the best out of every single guy.”
Hornqvist’s final NHL game was Dec. 3, 2022, against the Seattle Kraken. He was forced to leave early after taking an elbow to the head from Daniel Sprong. That resulted in his second concussion of the season. He never played after that.
It put an end to a career that spanned 901 games over 15 seasons with Nashville, Pittsburgh and the Panthers. He scored 264 goals and tallied 543 points overall.
“I can’t thank him enough for his contribution,” Zito said in June, a few months before officially bringing Hornqvist back. “I think we are someplace today and he is a significant reason. Rarely in life can you point to an individual and say what a collective achievement [he meant] but in this case you can. He has been a wonderful teammate and a wonderful Panther. We have a sincere and deep gratitude for everything he has done for our organization.’’
His time impacting the organization isn’t over just yet.
For summaries, complete standings, scores go to the eEdition at MiamiHerald.com.
Boston Detroit Toronto Tampa Bay Montreal Florida Ottawa Buffalo
N.Y. Rangers Carolina
New Jersey Philadelphia Columbus
N.Y. Islanders Washington Pittsburgh
Colorado Dallas Winnipeg Minnesota St. Louis Nashville Arizona Chicago 7 8 7 8 7 6 7 8
7 9 7 8 7 6 7 7 7 6 7 8 7 7 7 8 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 3
5 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 6 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 0 2 2 2 2 3 4 5
2 4 2 3 2 2 3 4 1 1 3 3 3 4 4 5
Vegas 8 7 0 1 15 31 17 Vancouver 7 5 2 0 10 28 15 Los Angeles 7 4 2 1 9 32 26 Anaheim 8 4 4 0 8 25 24 Seattle 8 2 4 2 6 18 28 Calgary 8 2 5 1 5 17 29 Edmonton 7 1 5 1 3 17 30 San Jose 8 0 7 1 1 8 32
Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.
Colorado at Buffalo, 1
Minnesota at New Jersey, 5
San Jose at Washington, 5
Calgary vs. Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium, 7
Anaheim 7, Philadelphia 4 Detroit at Boston
N.Y. Islanders at Columbus Ottawa at Pittsburgh Toronto at Nashville Winnipeg at Montreal
N.Y. Rangers at Vancouver Vegas at Los Angeles 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0
0 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 13 11 10 10 9 6 6 6
10 10 9 9 8 7 7 6 12 9 8 8 7 6 6 6
Chicago 4, Vegas 3 (OT)
Carolina 3, San Jose 0
New Jersey 5, Buffalo 4 Washington 3, Minnesota 2 (SO) Los Angeles 5, Arizona 4 Vancouver 5, St. Louis 0 22 11 35 24 27 21 29 24 22 24 17 18 27 24 23 27
21 13 34 35 29 27 28 25 20 23 16 19 16 25 21 20 28 16 17 15 24 24 29 34 14 20 20 19 20 20 18 24