FHN Today: Florida Panthers Return to the Ice This Week

It may not be October yet, but the Florida Panthers will officially be back on the ice this week.

The Panthers open what is expected to be their final training camp at the IceDen in Coral Springs on Thursday morning.

The team’s much-anticipated new facility at the War Memorial site in Fort Lauderdale is expected to open sometime in 2023 and will play host to camp moving forward.

The Panthers are expected to be split into two groups starting with Thursday morning’s first workout at 10, with new coach Paul Maurice leading both groups.

Florida will likely have three or four practice days before opening the preseason with the annual doubleheader in Nashville against the Predators on Monday, Sept. 26.

The Panthers official training camp roster will be released in the coming days.

If you checked out Florida Hockey Now this past week, you know veteran goalie J-F Berube will be in camp on a PTO while Andrew Hammond will not be.

Panthers Hockey is Almost Back!

The Only Place to Get Comprehensive, Daily Coverage of the Florida Panthers is with a Subscription to Florida Hockey Now!

This marks the third full season of Florida Panthers coverage at Florida Hockey Now and we could not do it without your support.

As you all know, this is the only place to get comprehensive daily coverage of the Panthers anywhere.

No one covers this team like Florida Hockey Now.

We hope you continue to join us this season as it should be another exciting and interesting one in Sunrise.

By purchasing either a monthly or annual subscription to FHN, you not only get access to subscriber-only stories (like today’s feature on Tag Bertuzzi as well as our Countdown to Camp series) but when signed in, you avoid all the ads which help keep us covering this team on a daily basis.

It’s not easy covering an NHL team on an independent basis, but we’re doing it.

Each and every day.

Thanks again for your support.

PANTHERLAND

The big buzz around the Panthers this week came from Calgary as MacKenzie Weegar told reporters that the Flames are “better than” the Panthers.

At the same golf event, Jonathan Huberdeau said it’ll be different playing in Calgary since Florida “wasn’t, obviously, a hockey market.’’

— Matthew Tkachuk threw out the first pitch at a Marlins game and said he is really excited to be here. He seems to be enjoying himself in this non-hockey market.

— Tag Bertuzzi does not remember a whole lot from his time as a toddler in South Florida as his dad Todd’s time with the Florida Panthers was brief.

But Tag Bertuzzi is hoping to make his mark with the Panthers during prospect and training camp and earn a spot with the organization.

— Our latest Countdown to Camp story focuses on what the Panthers should expect out of Sam Reinhart going into his second season with the team.

On Friday, we looked at Aaron Ekblad.

— Sergei Bobrovsky is back in South Florida gearing up for another season.

— Here’s what to look for from the Panthers as they continue their prospect showcase in Raleigh this afternoon.

— Florida won its opener of the tournament by blowing out the host Hurricanes.

— Seem like a lot of Panthers stories?

These are all from FHN — and all since Tuesday.

NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW

Speaking of Huberdeau, he was in the Las Vegas area last week on the NHL media tour and talked about the speculation he would play a season before signing with his hometown Montreal Canadiens.

Does not sound like he gave it a whole lot of thought.

— David Pastrnak does not want to go anywhere and is talking with the Boston Bruins about a new deal.

Hey Jumbo! 👋 pic.twitter.com/O0zzpmfTOp

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 17, 2022

— Mathew Barzal would also like to stay with the New York Islanders but the team appears to be taking its old, sweet time.

— Joe Thornton skates with the San Jose Sharks — and is fully outfitted in new team gear. With camp starting this week, I would not be surprised to see Jumbo back with the Sharks on a PTO at least.

— Evander Kane and the San Jose Sharks came to a financial agreement.