Florida Panthers Mailbag: Fan Rings, NHL Trade Deadline, Outdoor Game

We opened up the November edition of the FHN Florida Panthers Mailbag early in the month since things are kind of slow around here.

That is going to change, right quick.

The Panthers, after going 5-0 on the longest road trip of their season, will kickoff a five-game homestand starting Thursday against Nashville.

OK, let’s get to the Q&A.

You all really came strong with this one.

Yeah, yeah, I always say that. But I am not kidding.

This is a very strong Florida Panthers Mailbag with questions ranging from whether the team will offer championship rings to fans for purchase, to the potential of an outdoor game, to contract talks and the NHL Trade Deadline.

There’s a lot to unpack here, so…let’s go!

With Florida having so much recent success, is there any talk of the Panthers playing in the Winter Classic anytime soon? I think it would be pretty awesome to have Florida vs Tampa for a Winter in the South Winter Classic! — Kevin Hawkey

Oh, I definitely think there is talk of the Panthers being involved in one of the Winter Classic (New Year’s) or Stadium Series games perhaps by next season.

You all know I have been championing a Marlins Park game since the place opened in 2011, and that is an idea they are taking seriously.

Don’t know if they’re going to do it, but that would make a nice game say around early February when the weather here is at its best.

FHN Today: Time for Florida Panthers to Play at Marlins Park?

Florida also has some new rivals around the league; you could put them in Fenway (I know it has been there a few times) with the Bruins and that would be a lot of fun.

Do not think they will be able to pull off a game either at the Dolphins or Buccaneers stadium even though Tampa’s football stadium had been floated a few years ago.

Where else could you play an outdoor game — and Marlins Park with the roof and large eastside windows open works — in Florida?

It’s not going to be played in Gainesville or Tallahassee although with their weather, it could be done.

Is Hunter St. Martin eligible to play with the Cats this year? — @calvey4r

Sure, he would be eligible if the Panthers wanted him to come up and play.

But he is going to stay with Medicine Hat in the WHL — where he is tearing it up — and likely join Charlotte when the Tigers’ season is over on an amateur tryout so the ELC kicks in next season.

If a coach shortens the bench during OT does this reflect poorly on the rookies in the line up? My question is about panther prospects. — @Dragons_Quest

There really aren’t many rookies in the lineup — and due to 3-on-3 overtime, the bench is already short.

Florida OTs usually do not last all that long, and Paul Maurice likes running the same trio during OT. There are a lot of players who do not see the ice in OT — not just Mackie Samoskevich.

Adam Boqvist has not exactly set the world on fire so far, but I’m still rooting for him.  Has he lost the starters job to Schmidt, and what will he need to do to get back in the lineup? — @pamela_abrell

The Panthers do not like changing up their defensive pairings as we saw last season.

Once Dmitry Kulikov solidified his spot with OEL, he did not give it up. We will see Adam Boqvist again, sure; but Nate Schmidt looks like he did four or five years ago, and Uvis Balinskis has been terrific. No reason to change anything as long as they stay healthy.

How do you see the bottom pair on D shaping out since they are combined -8? — @AndrewLevine5

Listen, the defense has a lot of new faces on it this year and that is going to be reflected in that plus/minus. They have only been at it 13 games or so — and that was with a lot of games having Balinskis playing forward.

It’s very early in the season but do you think the 2024 Global Series versus Dallas could be a preview of the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals? — @FlaPanthersDen

I mean, yeah, why not?

Dallas has been close the past two years and may be the best team in the west. Florida looks like it is going to make another run in the east. The Panthers and Stars would make for a fun Stanley Cup Final. And a lot easier for fans of both teams to make the trips to away games than it was last season.

I’ve noticed other Stanley Cup champions team have sold secondary authentic rings to fans that weren’t made from China. Will the Panthers do the same to allow fans to purchase a secondary ring? I truly would buy one and wear it EVERYWHERE. — Aaron M.

May want to grab one of those cheap fakes, then.

The Panthers have told me they will not be selling replica or collectible jewelry to commemorate the Stanley Cup championship as, you mentioned, other teams have done.

The Miami Heat offered fans a special fan ring and other trinkets when they won the NBA championship in 2012 and 2013.

Other teams have offered their fans championship bling including: the Vegas Golden Knights, Texas Rangers, Golden State Warriors, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Celtics, and the Kansas City Chiefs just to name ones I could find.

The Panthers have decided against making these available.

The only fans who will be getting a ring are the original season ticket holders from 1993 whom will be gifted a special ring from the team.   

Sam Bennett has been impressive. Do you see him remaining as a Panther? — @hlamp

Oh yeah, I think Bennett sticks around. Word is, the two sides are already talking. He wants to be here, they want him to be here. They’ll figure something out.

Breaking: Friedman Says Panthers, Sam Bennett Begin Contract Talks

Good or bad, what has surprised you about the Panthers so far this season? — @MrEd315

Had to think about this one for a second. I think the big surprise is how well the Panthers have done against the best teams in the league — they are 7-0-1 against playoff teams from last season.

Of course, Minnesota did not make the playoffs but are pretty good this season and did beat up the Panthers pretty handily. But the Wild always seems to do that. The Wild like winning the Mike Russo Bowl.

Looking at some goalie stats, both Bob and Knights are towards the bottom. They always get a lot goals against – a reason for concern? — @luca89123

No, I would not think so. It seems like goals-against is up all over the league. It is early in the season. In baseball, hitters are usually ahead of pitchers early.

Same kind of idea here. The goalies have been good this year, but there have been a couple of starts both would like back. But pretty good overall. Both only care about the wins and those have been up.

George, have you ever tried Luostarinen’s acclaimed Salmon Soup? Here is a link for a recipe you might want to try.  It’s actually incredibly good with really good salmon in it. — @ScubaDocJMP

Unlike Doug Plagens, I love a good soup — and, yes, I have had the salmon soup when in Finland for Florida’s first trip there back in 2009. It was delicious, Jerry.

And I looked at the recipe. I think I could actually make that.

I know it’s only been four games at home, but the average attendance in Sunrise is 18,878. I think that should put us forth in the NHL, only behind Montreal, Detroit and Tampa. But a quick search brings up Hockeydb that shows our attendance at home averaging only 17,664 which is 16th in the league. Are they including the game in Finland? How do we get this corrected, before we start getting comments about how the Panthers won the cup and they are still middle of the pack in attendance. Sorry, but this is a sensitive topic for all 6 of us. — Dale Huber

Yes, you are correct: The game in Finland was a home game and counts against the attendance.

That was a sellout, but was only 12,807 compared to the almost 20,000 which is what Sunrise holds. These numbers are always skewed when you factor in games like these. Nothing really you can do. It was a home game. It brought down the average.

The Panthers finally can worry about such things. Back in the day, the 12,807 in Finland would be welcomed to be averaged in.

Report: As Revenue Goes Up, Value of the Florida Panthers Rises

George, how many hats (caps?) do you own now? How many have you sacrificed to the Hat Trick gods? Which is your personal favorite? Or, if you would prefer, which ones are on your Mt. Rushmore? — Ed Purchase

I have quite a few baseball caps, no idea how many. I should get rid of some, but feel bad and always end up just keeping them around.

My favorite caps are some of the ones I have picked up at various minor league ballparks (Columbus, Akron, Buffalo, Toledo, Chattanooga, Durham, etc.) but I also dig my old Cleveland and Los Angeles caps. Plus my new Cleveland and Los Angeles caps. Still looking for a Miami Miracle or Fort Lauderdale Yankees cap if anyone out there has an extra.

As for the hat trick question, yes, I did fly a Miami Hurricanes cap onto the ice after one of Pavel Bure’s three-goal games way back when. I still miss it.

Yes, I have a problem.

It appears as if Bennett and Ekblad have been playing well in their contract year. News is out that the Cats are already in talks with Bennett. What numbers do you see for him? Any thoughts on Ekblad on a shorter term deal? — Cats and Oilers

I do not know if Bennett gets an eight-year deal, but of course that is possible. The Panthers already have a few guys on the max-term deals, of course, not all ending at the same time. But let’s say he does: How about 8×7?

That’s a good chunk of change, a significant raise, and is what Carter Verhaeghe just got.

As for Aaron Ekblad, he is on the final year of the eight-year contract he got in 2016. He already got the max deal. I would think he gets five years at less than what he is making ($7.5) perhaps around $6 million per.

Both players want to stay, both players have and will be nicely compensated, and both understand they will have to take less than the market value (as others have done) to keep the band together, allow the team to continue to make additions and keep on winning.

NHL Free Agency: Verhaeghe Signed, Bennett and Ekblad On Deck

Any thoughts on the trade deadline this year? With not much cap room, will we be trying to add depth at the deadline or do you think we stand pat with the team we have? (barring a serious injury somewhere which changes everything) — Bryan Geary

Yeah, injuries notwithstanding, the Panthers would be in the market at the deadline.

But, as things stand now, they could only bring on a salary of about $2 million — that’s probably one (likely) or two depth players unless other teams retain some money which could very well happen.

Maybe they move some money around, perhaps someone is on LTIR, who knows. Very early right now. But they will add something at the deadline, it just probably won’t be in the blockbuster variety.

It appears that Ballinski and Schmidt have locked down that third D pairing, what does this mean A.Boquist, who opened the season as the point on PP1, will he be traded, sent down (knowing he would have to clear waivers) or does he simply watch games from the pressbox untill his services are needed again? — surveyjay

I don’t think he is going anywhere.

The Panthers like him, he is an RFA which means Florida holds his rights moving forward. Paul is very particular about mixing up his d-pairings and, right now, A-Bo is on the outside looking in. But that will not always be the case. Things happen. Being one of Florida’s seven defensemen is a good place to be.

Who got sick from the Finnish food and who passed out in a sauna?! — @TheMozKnowz

Stanley C. Panther.

ON DECK: GAME 14

NASHVILLE PREDATORS AT FLORIDA PANTHERS 

• When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Season Series — At Nashville: Feb. 25. At Florida: Thursday.
• Last Season: Split 1-1
• All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 22-15-6, 3 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 6 p.m.