George Richards, FHN Publisher
SUNRISE — Patric Hornqvist has not played a minute of playoff hockey for the Florida Panthers during this run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Actually, Hornqvist has not been in the lineup since December.
That does not mean he is not a part of the success of this team.
Far from it.
And, they would not want to be here without him.
Hornqvist is deeply invested in this team and got a little emotional talking about what they have accomplished over the past few weeks.
He cannot, and will not play, due to suffering two concussions within a month back in December, but he is doing everything he can to help push his team to its ultimate goal.
”I am happy, so glad we are in this position right now,’’ said Hornqvist, who won the Stanley Cup twice with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“A few months ago, if we don’t win that game in Toronto, our season was over. … And now, we’re in the Stanley Cup Finals. That’s crazy. To be through that journey, for me, is so special. I feel spoiled to be part of it one more time.”
Hornqvist may not be in the lineup, but he is on the ice with his team just about every day.
You can count on seeing Hornqvist early each morning in his yellow no-contact gear working with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, peppering him with shots, shouting encouragement and then usually ending things with a big hug or emphatic stick tap to the pads.
Sometimes Hornqvist stays out for the full practice, sometimes he heads off to start his early workout.
Regardless, he is around this Florida team — and they appreciate his support, his guidance and his belief in them.
“We would like to have him playing but he is here every day,” captain Sasha Barkov said. “Either he is practicing or pushing guys in the gym to be a better player, a better professional, a better person. He is leading in that way. He has won a couple Cups so it helps to talk to him because he knows what to do in this situation.”
Hornqvist has been out of the Panthers lineup since catching the elbow of Seattle’s Daniel Sprong on Dec. 3.
It was Hornqvist’s second concussion within the span of a month and he has not played since.
As he and the Panthers have maintained for months, Hornqvist said he will not play again this season.
“The risk of another one is way to high,’’ coach Paul Maurice said, “the potential cost for the rest of his life is way too high.’’
When it comes to his future, that remains a little murky. At times he sounds like he wants to come back and at others it does not appear that is in the cards.
Regardless, as Hornqvist said, that conversation will be held later.
“The future, what we now know, is that I won’t play again this year,” he said. “Then I will sit down with my family, Paul and Bill and will see what happens. That’s not the focus right now. I just want to help these guys prepare for a great last, at most, seven games.”
The Panthers certainly would love to keep him around as long as he would like to be around.
Maurice has praised Hornqvist for his dedication to this team as it would have been easy for him just to walk away from everything and go about his life.
Only his life still revolves around this Florida team as it has since Bill Zito acquired him in a deal with Pittsburgh for Mike Matheson in 2020.
It was Zito’s first trade and one he says transformed the Panthers almost immediately.
Probably no coincidence the Panthers have enjoyed their most success on the ice since Hornqvist got here.
“He has this joy about being at the rink every day even things were a little tough around here,” Maurice said. “He has won two Cups and that matters. He does not take the game for granted. He works as hard today as he did on the first day of camp. Beyond that, he has been a benefit because we have had a whole lot of injuries this year and … if you can skate with Patric, you’re good.
“If you think you’re going to have a light day, Patric is not going to allow that to happen. He’s half doctor, half coach. You come off the bench after these wins and he is just so happy for the guys. He is in all the meetings, he has ideas, he has been there. Not a lot of guys get to the Finals, ever. He has insight into what changes from Round 3 to Round 4.”
Hornqvist is one of a handful of players on the Panthers who has gone through the rigors of a run to the Stanley Cup with only he, Eric Staal and Carter Verhaeghe knowing what it feels like to lift that coveted trophy over their heads in triumph.
He says he is enjoying this ride the only way he can.
“I am not telling them anything,” Hornqvist said. “They are on such a great run and playing the best hockey of the year at the right time. I am just trying to stay away. If someone comes up to me and asks a question, I answer it, but it is not time for me to say anything.
”But I feel great. This is so much fun. To see the boys playing this hard and so consistent for the past 15 games, it makes me so happy. I am so happy for them. To be through this kind of run again, for me, it is great. This is what you live for as a player and as a fan. For me to be able to be around them on a day-to-day basis is just great.”
FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK