George Richards, FHN Publisher
The Florida Panthers will open their 2021-22 season in two months and rarely have expectations been this high in South Florida. With the Panthers signing future Hall of Famer Joe Thornton on Friday, what will their lineup look like come Oct. 14 when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town?
There are not many questions as to who will play within the top six — although that will become much clearer when training camp starts next month.
But there are a few.
Will Sam Reinhart play center or on the right side? Is Anthony Duclair on the top line, the second or third? Where does up-and-coming forward Owen Tippett slot in?
When it comes to the overall structure of the roster, there are not many spots remaining.
It already looked like there was going to be a real battle for positioning before Thornton signed on with a one-year, league-minimum contract.
For the purpose of this exercise, we’re going with the current roster.
General manager Bill Zito may have a trade or two coming to clear up some space and, based on what the Panthers did during camp last season, they will have their eye on the waiver wire as well.
FLORIDA PANTHERS FORWARDS
The Panthers are likely going to carry 14 forwards on the 23-man roster so looking at who is currently signed, there is not much room.
Who gets those final two spots?
Again, the Panthers could have a trade coming to clear up some of the logjam but right this moment, we’re going with Mason Marchment and Eetu Luostarinen making the final cuts out of camp.
Why them?
Both players gives Florida versatility as a center or a wing. On nights that the Panthers sit either Thornton or Patric Hornqvist, either could slide in.
That leaves Ryan Lomberg — and others — out at least right now.
Now, Luostarinen is still on his entry level contract (as is fellow roster candidates Grigori Denisenko and Aleksi Heponiemi) so he could be sent to Charlotte to start the season if only to save a roster spot from someone who could potentially be lost on waivers — like Lomberg.
When it comes to Lomberg, well, we saw what kind of energy he brought at the end of last season. That has value. The Panthers may try and hold onto him.
Maxim Mamin, who recently left the KHL to return to the Panthers, is definitely a threat to crack the lineup but since he is waivers exempt, he may start in Charlotte as well.
Of course, this all assumes that rookie Anton Lundell is ready for prime time.
We had him penciled in to center the third line although with Thornton coming aboard, things may have changed a bit.
Thornton, who played on the left side a lot last season, could take over the third line and with Vatrano and Duclair, have some speed on the wings.
That leaves open the possibility Lundell centers the fourth with Noel Acciari sliding over, or going to Charlotte for a spell.
We shall see.
FLORIDA PANTHERS LINES
Carter Verhaeghe — Sasha Barkov — Sam Reinhart
Jonathan Huberdeau — Sam Bennett — Owen Tippett
Frank Vatrano — Joe Thornton — Anthony Duclair
Noel Acciari — Anton Lundell — Patric Hornqvist
Extras: Mason Marchment, Eetu Luostarinen
FLORIDA PANTHERS DEFENSEMEN
It’s hard to imagine the Panthers going into the season completely satisfied with the defense it has right now, although if they do, one could see it working at least until the trade deadline.
Five are a lock to make the roster: Aaron Ekblad, MacKenzie Weegar, Brandon Montour, Gus Forsling and Radko Gudas. Markus Nutivaara makes six.
Who is the final defenseman to make this team?
Matt Kiersted definitely looked like he belonged after signing with the Panthers out of North Dakota but wasn’t part of the playoff rotation. That’s OK. If he has a big summer and strong training camp, the Panthers know the ability is there. So he could make the team unless the team thinks it would be better for him to play as the top guy in Charlotte every night instead of fighting for playing time in Florida.
Chase Priskie has been working with Spencer Knight and is also in the mix after a solid season at AHL Syracuse.
Then you have Lucas Carlsson who came over from the Chicago Blackhawks last year and veteran Kevin Connauton who drew raves from the coaching staff.
Florida also re-signed Noah Juulsen after bringing him in from Montreal after he was waived in training camp.
If he looks good in camp, Juulsen likely gets the final spot.
As far as the combos go, don’t be surprised to see Florida split up Ekblad and Weegar as its top pairing.
Yeah, they have been great together but Florida liked what it saw from Weegar and Forsling so that could be a thing — at least early in camp to see where everything fits.
FLORIDA PANTHERS DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Brandon Montour — Aaron Ekblad
Gus Forsling — MacKenzie Weegar
Markus Nutivaara — Radko Gudas
Extra: Noah Juulsen
FLORIDA PANTHERS GOALIES
Do we really have to do this?
Although there’s a chance Knight goes down to Charlotte to get some playing time, it’s a pretty small one.
Knight showed last season he is more than ready to handle life in the NHL. He’s ready. Florida likely isn’t going to give Sergei Bobrovsky 70 starts leaving the backup out on morning skate island so there is no need to sent Knight north for game experience. He’s going to get that here.
We will flip a coin to see who starts on Opening Night — Bob wins — but Knight will get plenty of playing time as the season goes along.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Spencer Knight