Quest for the Cup
Panthers say they have talent to make playoffs.
CORAL SPRINGS — The Florida Panthers’ practice facility in Coral Springs is walled by white paint — nondescript, plain, unremarkable. It’s a neutral color that meshes easily with everything: the red, blue and gold of the logo and the white of the ice it surrounds. But still, some white paint means more than others in the Ice Den.
To the right of the red banner that reads “Atlantic Division Champions 2015-16,” there exists empty space, unbothered by the accomplishments of a year ago. It’s a reminder of a lost season and a memory of the heights Florida’s franchise reached just 17 months ago.
The 81 points aren’t on the wall. Nor is the sixth-place Atlantic Dichance. vision finish. Nor is the fired coach. Nor the failed interim coach. Nor the replaced general manager. But the sting remains, as much as the Panthers try to delete it from their collective memory.
Friday night offers a first The Panthers open their first season under coach Bob Boughner tonight, beginning with a game against division rival Tampa Bay.
Last year, the Panthers set their sights on creating lasting success, dreaming of the Stanley Cup, and building off the second division title this decade. This year, the Panthers are simply eyeing the playoffs. After that, Boughner said, anything can happen in the postseason.
“On paper, you look at our team and it’s a really good squad,” forward Nick Bjugstad said. “There’s no reason not to set your goals for that. The key is to get a good start. Last year, we kind of felt it out and we didn’t really come out like we wanted to. If we start off on the right foot, it really helps later in the season.”
The Panthers have undergone a makeover over the summer, some would even call it a restoration. General manager Dale Tallon was put back in charge of the hockey operations, replacing a group approach headed by general manager turned interim coach Tom Rowe.
The Panthers parted ways with older forwards such as Jaromir Jagr and Jussi Jokinen to try to inject speed onto their roster. They dumped Reilly Smith’s contract in a trade with Vegas that also resulted in Jonathan Marchessault departing in the expansion draft. They traded defenseman Jason Demers to Arizona to acquire a big body in front of the net, such as Jamie McGinn.
Those five departing players combined for 81 goals and 109 assists on a team that ranked 23rd in the NHL in scoring. But the Panthers welcome back franchise cornerstones Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad and Nick Bjugstad from injury-shortened seasons, hoping healthy seasons from them can return the Panthers to the playoffs.
“There’s no doubt the talent is there,” said goaltender Roberto Luongo, likely to start his 18th season Friday night. “I don’t see why we couldn’t do it.”
Tampa Bay has become a popular pick to bounce back from a postseasonless year a season ago, with Steven Stamkos again leading the Lightning. The two teams will play again Saturday in Sunrise in Florida’s home opener.
“We’re trying to meet up to them, if not take a step ahead of them this year,” Luongo said.
Sweater letters
Derek MacKenzie was officially named the Panthers’ captain on Thursday morning, though he wore the “C” on his sweater throughout the preseason. It will be the second season MacKenzie has captained Florida.
Florida will have different alternate captains at home and on the road. Defenseman Keith Yandle and Barkov will wear the “A” at home while Ekblad and center Vincent Trocheck will do so on the road. Midway through the season, they will switch.
“I think I wanted to make a bigger leadership group,” Boughner said. “I wanted to put a little more ownership on the team as a whole when it comes to that. The guys that we picked are fantastic people and I the guys are real happy that we did it that way as well.” …
A pair of players who were in Panthers training camp singed two-way deals with other NHL teams. Forward Brandon Pirri signed a one-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights and forward Harry Zolnierczyk inked a one-year deal with the Nashville Predators. Both deals will pay $650,000 at the NHL level.
Pirri was a candidate to make the opening day roster on the strength of a superb shot and an offensive skill set that Florida’s forward group lacked. But he had only one assist in three preseason games and was released from his professional tryout on Sunday. He was previously noncommittal about signing a twoway contract.
“I feel like I can play in the NHL, so that’s what it comes down to,” Pirri said last week.