West Point exhibition all business this time
Tight schedule cuts some of the fun, but Panthers enjoy trip.
Unlike past trips to the U.S. Military Academy, the Panthers won’t spend much time in West Point, N.Y., as Shawn Thornton put it “slogging through the swamp.”
That doesn’t mean they don’t have plenty of business to conduct.
Not only will the Panthers entertain the Cadets with a preseason game tonight against the New Jersey Devils at Tate Rink, but coach Gerard Gallant said he plans on introducing a new captain while there.
“We’ll probably do something at West Point, there’s a good chance of it,” Gallant said. “I’m not 100 percent, but I’m pretty sure.”
Because of Hurricane Matthew, the Panthers’ flight north Friday was delayed three hours and the team will head back Sunday after- noon.
This will be the Panthers’ third trip to West Point and second since Vinnie Viola — a 1977 graduate of the academy — bought the team in 2013.
I n p r e v i o u s t r i p s , t h e Pant her s hel d ext e ns ive team-building exerc i se s, including a long hike up Mount Tourne in which Willie Mitchell was named captain in 2014.
Florida’s schedule will be much tighter this time around, but that doesn’t mean players aren’t excited.
“When you see the schedule come out, you see such a prestige place and know you have to take it all in,” defen- seman Keith Yandle said.
“You’re excited for the team building, seeing everything to offer. It’s pretty cool. It will be amazing, one of those things as an American to put on a show for the men and women who do so much for us is a special thing.”
With today being Florida’s final preseason game, a number of players may get an extra look.
With the roster down to 25, Florida will make two more cuts following the game.
Greg McKegg and 19-yearold Denis Malkin (who will get first crack at replacing the injured Nick Bjugstad cen- tering the third line) appear to be locks. Bjugstad is out for at least four weeks with a broken hand.
B a r r i n g i n j u r y, S h a n e Harper and Paul Thompson may be left behind up north and report to Florida’s AHL team in Springfield, Mass.
Wi t h t o d a y t h e f i n a l tuneup before Thursday’s season opener against the Devils, Gallant said the plan is for Roberto Luongo to play the entire game in net to get in a full game for the only time this preseason.
Gallant said the decision has been made on who will replace Willie Mitchell as cap- tain and it could be his former roommate — 20-year-old defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
Ve t e r a n c e n t e r D e r e k MacKenzie is the other guy who may get the call.
“I ma d e i t l o n g a g o , ” Gallant said, “but it was a tough decision for sure ... It wasn’t just mine; it was management, mine, assistant coaches.”
Noteworthy: The Panthers signed defenseman Thomas Schemitsch, 19, to an entry-level contract and then sent him to AHL Springfield. Because Schemitsch turns 20 later this month, he’s AHL eligible. Schemitsch was a third-round pick in 2015.