George Richards, FHN Publisher
Sasha Barkov appears to be tiring of being asked about the influence and impact the new players on his Florida Panthers made in the opening month of the season.
Or, at least, he has grown weary of being asked about them by one specific reporter.
“You asked the same question last time,” Barkov responded to a question by a certain beat writer following Sunday’s 3-2 win in Detroit.
Barkov, it should be known, was joking around.
And, for the record, I did not ask him that question the last time we spoke via Zoom.
Regardless, Barkov, as much or perhaps more so than anyone else on the Panthers, is thrilled with the additions general manager Bill Zito made during his first offseason running his own team.
“It has been a huge help for us obviously getting those type of guys,” Barkov continued.
“I know I have said it before, but this feels like a fresh start for all of us not only the new guys but for those who have been here a while. It feels like a new team. It’s the same organization, but a new team with new systems and there is a fresh air in the room.
“We’re enjoying the process, everyone is working hard. We’re on the same page and we’re only going to get better.”
Said coach Joel Quenneville: “I really think there is a new vibe around here. I think the attitude is fresh, there’s a lot more enthusiasm. … Getting off to a good start enhances that attitude, but no one is taking anything for granted.”
The new additions have helped lead the Panthers to the best six-game start in franchise history at 5-0-1.
The 1996-97 team, coming off an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals, was 4-0 with two ties through its first six games and ended up going without a loss (8-0, 4) throughout its first 12.
There was no shootout back then, so to be fair, this Florida team would have been 4-0, 2 under the 1996 standard.
Still. With 11 points earned out of the 12 available to start the season, Florida came into Monday atop the NHL’s Central Division.
“These guys have really brought some intensity to the game,” Quenneville said.
“They have personality, are good in the locker room, they play the right way. They challenge each other in a positive way. Accountability is important to everyone.”
The first move Zito made was much celebrated and has only looked better since the season opened.
Trading defenseman Mike Matheson to Pittsburgh for power forward Patric Hornqvist looked good when it happened in September and has aged well.
On Sunday, Hornqvist scored his team-leading fifth goal to tie the score at 1, and that doesn’t include his game-winner in the shootout in Columbus last Tuesday.
“He is a great leader,” Barkov said. “He won two Cups on great teams and brings experience to our team, a winning mentality to our team with hard work.”
Carter Verhaeghe, one of the first free agents to sign with the Panthers when the market opened Oct. 9, tied Hornqvist for the team lead in goals when he scored off a pass from Barkov with what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Anthony Duclair was held off the scoresheet Sunday, the first time that had happened this season.
Coming into the game, Duclair had a team-high six assists with at least one helper in each of the team’s first five games — including one to rookie Aleksi Heponiemi in overtime Saturday.
Of Florida’s top six scorers, three were not on the team last year. The top two scorers on the Panthers are Hornqvist and Verhaeghe.
The Panthers were looking for scorers to replace the departed Evgenii Dadonov and Mike Hoffman — who have a combined two goals and seven points on their new teams — and at least early on, have found it.
“A lot of the new guys have super-positive influence in the room,” goalie Chris Driedger said. “Guys like Hornqvist and Gudas are incredible leaders. …
“Horny has five goals, same with Verhaeghe … Really every guy has been contributing. Wennberg has been playing really well, the list goes on and on. It is great seeing. Hepo had the game-winner, incredible stuff.
“Some of it is we have meshed with the new guys and everyone is just ready to go. And it seems like Q has the lines firing on all cylinders. We have gotten chemistry with the new guys and hopefully we can keep it up.”
Taking a quick look at the Panthers roster and you see newcomers doing a lot of important stuff.
Alex Wennberg, bought out in Columbus and signed to a one-year deal here, centers Florida’s second line and has a couple of assists.
Defenseman Radko Gudas is playing on the third pairing with Keith Yandle but has seen his playing time increase over the past two games.
Gudas has been getting into the offensive play with five shots in his past three games.
Markus Nutivaara, also brought in from Columbus, has only played in three games after being on the Covid-19 protocol list but has two assists.
Then there are the kids.
Eetu Luostarinen, acquired in the Vincent Trocheck deal last February, centers the third line and has two big goals and three points.
Juho Lammikko and Heponiemi make up, at least the past two games, a new fourth line with rookie Owen Tippett joining them for the last two periods Sunday.
Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Lomberg have not played as much as the Panthers hoped when they signed them as free agents, but it is a long season. Both will get their chances.
Same goes for newly acquired defensemen Gustav Forsling and Noah Juulsen.
Forsling was on Florida’s second defensive pairing before getting hurt Thursday (he’s out the next few weeks) and Juulsen should find his way into the lineup eventually.
“Everyone is going to get the chance to play,” Quenneville said. “We have some more guys we have to look at. We have some depth and are getting into a stretch here where we’ll get some different looks just to keep everyone fresh.”