George Richards, FHN Publisher
SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers will open their Stanley Cup defense in one week when the Boston Bruins come to town in what could be the most contentious Opening Night in franchise history.
It certainly will be the most celebrated with the Panthers unveiling not one, not two, but three new banners at Amerant Bank Arena.
The Stanley Cup Champions flag is the one everyone wants to see — and one the Bruins will be glancing at throughout the night.
The question is not will the Panthers have themselves some fun on Tuesday night.
Win or lose, they will.
What we do not know just yet is which Florida Panthers will be on the Opening Night roster.
Florida will be without fourth-line center Tomas Nosek after he was injured during the opening preseason game after going hard into the end boards.
Coach Paul Maurice said he was a “long way” from returning to skating.
So, that is one roster spot which is open.
How many more do the Panthers have?
We also do not know about the availability of rookie Mackie Samoskevich, who was expected to take the spot of Vladimir Tarasenko on a third line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.
Samoskevich apparently got hurt before training camp started and has only been seen on the ice a few times. He did not practice on Monday.
With a week left before the opener, it is conceivable that Samoskevich could be ready by Tuesday night — but why rush it?
We are going to count him as out for the first game, opening up a second roster spot.
Justin Sourdif was expected to compete for a spot, and may have made it if not for getting hurt in practice himself last week.
Florida did make some roster moves on Monday morning, but none of those sent to Charlotte’s AHL camp — or prospects Gracyn Sawchyn and Hunter St. Martin — were expected to be part of Opening Night.
Here is a look at who may just make up the Panthers’ Opening Night roster:
FORWARDS (14)
Carter Verhaeghe — Sasha Barkov — Sam Reinhart
Evan Rodrigues — Sam Bennett — Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen — Anton Lundell — Jesper Boqvist
Jonah Gadjovich — Patrick Giles — A.J. Greer
Extra: Mackie Samoskevich (injured), Will Lockwood
LTIR: Tomas Nosek
The big question mark here, aside from whether Giles not only makes the team but centers the fourth line, is what to do with Samoskevich.
Because he does not need to pass through waivers, Florida could send Samoskevich to Charlotte until he is healthy and give a roster spot to someone else (Rasmus Asplund? Zac Dalpe?)
This is only for Opening Night; Samoskevich and Nosek will both return.
As for Giles, it certainly looks like he may make the Panthers as he had another strong performance Monday night against the Lightning.
He’s not getting an apartment just yet, however, but Opening Night could beckon.
Here’s the thing, though: Maurice does not sound convinced Giles is ready to play center after being on the wing much of his career.
Dalpe would be a quick, veteran fix for fourth-line center until Nosek gets back with Florida knowing what he can do.
Maurice talked about Giles needing to get better in the face-off dot and that is certainly a strength Dalpe possesses.
On Tuesday, Florida mixed-and-matched some lines — with Jesper Boqvist centering Giles and Gadjovich. That could work, too.
DEFENSEMEN (7)
Gus Forsling — Aaron Ekblad
Nate Schmidt — Niko Mikkola
Dmitry Kulikov — Adam Boqvist
Extra: Uvis Balinskis
There is not much controversy here as the Panthers appear set with this seven-man rotation although Florida could only carry 13 forwards and keep an eighth defenseman.
If that is the case, perhaps veteran Jaycob Megna starts the season in Sunrise and not Charlotte.
GOALIES (2): Sergei Bobrovsky, Spencer Knight.
The Panthers signed Chris Driedger to be their No. 3 goalie this season with the idea that Knight would backup Bobrovsky.
Nothing has changed.
Knight and Driedger have both been fine this preseason and, if nothing else, Florida knows it will have a strong goalie ready to go if injuries pop up during the season.
Last year, Florida got very lucky when it came to goalie injuries allowing Knight to get an uninterrupted season of starting in Charlotte.
Do not expect that to happen again this season.
Driedger will be back — unless he gets pulled off waivers by a team needing a solid veteran goalie.
Right now, it appears he would get through.