George Richards, FHN Publisher
Well, thanks to the deep playoff run by the Florida Panthers, this has been perhaps the shortest offseason in franchise history.
That does not mean it has not been busy.
The Florida Panthers have made a number of changes to their roster either through free agency or trades and could be without a couple key members of their team when training camp opens in about six weeks.
We know you all had questions about the Panthers as we head into the dead zone — we call it ‘August’ here in the biz — and, as always, you did not disappoint.
We have a very excellent Mailbag this time around with questions about the likes of Spencer Knight, Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour — not to mention about potential jerseys for the 30th anniversary season, how the team did financially during the run to the Stanley Cup Final and if there are any talks about replacing the Sunrise arena as it enters its 25th anniversary season.
So, without further ado, the FHN Florida Panthers Mailbag is open:
Can we expect the Florida Panthers to release a special 30th anniversary jersey? — @BrettRocker95
They’re not even planing on putting the 30th anniversary patch on their game jerseys. Could they make a special jersey for sale? Sure. In fact, they probably ought to look into that.
Have the Florida Panthers designated jersey numbers for all of their Free Agency pickups, as not all of the new players are listed on the roster?
When do you anticipate the September Training Camp Roster, which will include the names, jersey #s and info on the Panthers ELC invitees from various minor league hockey teams be made available. Perhaps GM Zito is working on it as we still have about 6 weeks to go…. — Ron Valentine
The number game is not settled just yet and the report that Steven Lorenz will wear No. 11 is unsubstantiated but a real possibility.
As for the training camp roster — including PTOs — that will be released sometime in September.
What is the latest on Eric Staal? — RogerPhoto
I don’t think he is done playing, not after the season he just had. Someone will give him a shot to make their team. I wouldn’t be surprised if Minnesota gives him a look.
It usually takes an intentional surgeon or an unintentional car accident to break a sternum; Any word on Matthew Tkachuk’s injury after that massive hit from Keegan Kolesar? — Zeke1961
Yeah, that was a car-wreck of a hit. He will be fine. Word is, he will be all healed up and ready for the start of training camp.
With the extension to Eetu, who do you think we will see next getting one? Lots of guys up after this season. — Andrew Levine
Yeah, there are a lot of guys who are due for an extension and Bill Zito said that we should not expect any right on July 1 — and we have not. But you have to think they are working on them with the likes of Brandon Montour and Sam Reinhart, two players they want to keep moving forward. They did not talk to Anthony Duclair about one so it was not a big surprise that he was dealt.
Where do you see the lines and d pairings for the start of the season? Will Paul allow Gustav be an offensive d man by pairing him with a defensive d man? Will Denisenko or Samoskevich break camp and actually get to play? If either does do they get to play with Barkov to cover for their rookie errors? — Stanley
I went over the lines a few weeks ago — and I do think that Forsling is going to get a chance at bigger minutes and more work on the power play which will enhance his offense. I do think Denisenko will be with the team when the season starts but I have Samoskevich penciled in for Charlotte.
It looks as if the Panthers have improved the 4th line and have some upcoming talent to keep an eye on in the system and got depth on defense, do you feel they have improved in those areas? Any info on Montour extension? He must be re-signed in my opinion.
Than you and keep up the good work. — Dale
Agreed, they wanted to upgrade their bottom-6 during free agency and I think they did just that. They brought in Kevin Stenlund to be the fourth-line center and have Lorentz to play there with Ryan Lomberg or Nick Cousins. Not bad.
As far as the defense goes, it is tough to lose Ekblad and Montour but they do have more depth there now than they did last season and that should keep them in the mix until those two stalwarts come back. As far as an extension with Montour goes, no update just yet.
Is it time to move Ekblad? His play this past season along with injuries makes him unpredictable. At times, he has been rock solid and productive but other times, he seems lost in front of our net. What is the trade value for him and do you think he would be most likely aside from Reinhart to be dealt to improve the roster? — Kevin Hawkey
I do not think so. Ekblad has been battling a number of injuries the past few seasons and that has certainly slowed him down. This offseason should be beneficial for him to get back to form. As far as trading him goes, he has a full no-trade clause and does not want to leave. So that’s a non-starter.
After the new arena in Calgary is finished, there’s going to be a wave of discussions of new arenas in the NHL, as 21 of the league’s arenas were built between 1993 and 2001, with FLA Live Arena obviously one of them. When would you expect talks of a new arena to start getting serious, and where do you think they’d put it? — Kenneth W
A few years ago there were a lot of whispers around the Panthers when it came to looking at land in downtown Fort Lauderdale for a new arena but Covid seems to have snuffed those out. I have not heard anything about that in a while. But, you make a point; this will be the 25th anniversary of this building and while it is still very nice, one has to wonder if the Panthers see other arenas — like the one in Vegas — with a little bit of jealousy.
There is a thought that a big investment into the building could make it a viable venue for another 30 years and would come at a fraction of the cost of a new building — especially with what real estate costs in South Florida these days. The one thing the Sunrise site gives the Panthers is plenty of room to do what they want and they are not getting that anywhere else in Broward County which I do not see them leaving.
The team has a very cozy relationship with Fort Lauderdale but that does not mean there is a viable site for an arena. For the low, low price of $100 million, the Sunrise arena could be as nice as any in the league.
George, why didn’t the Panthers sign a guy like Matt Dumba instead of Larsson? He would have been a great replacement for Gudas, with more offensive upside imo. Did they really like OEL more? Also, do you think Bill Zito will add another Top-4 Dman before training camp opens, either via trade or free agent signing? — Tom
I think they were able to make a deal with Oliver Ekman-Larsson almost immediately which was a selling point. They think he is due for a big bounce back season after fracturing his left foot twice last season. He needs this season as much as the Panthers need his best. As for Dumba, his asking price still seems too high for a number of teams which is why he is still available.
What do you think the season looks like for Spencer Knight? — JWolf
That is one of the big questions this season. But he looked good in development camp, was in great spirits and wants to be back on the ice somewhere — whether that is here in Florida with the Panthers or in Charlotte. I think once he gets going, all is going to be fine.
As great as last season was, the team seemed to struggle winning faceoffs. Any thoughts on how they may be this season? Thanks! — Ian Payner
Well, Stenlund won 53 percent of his FOs last season with the Jets so that’s a start. It certainly is something they will be working on in training camp.
Just wondering what happened to Serron Noel? — ConkmanFL
Well, that is something no one is really talking about. He did not take part in training camp because of a personal issue and only played in seven games with the Everblades. Florida did not offer him a qualifying offer making him a free agent and he has not signed elsewhere which means there is a possibility he returns.
Can you run through which of our young players will be at risk of being lost if we need them to start the season in the AHL or be sent down after the season starts. I can look at it on CapFreindly, but I’m not clear on how it works with setting the rosters at the beginning of the year. We have a lot of defensemen and someone will need to be moved once Ekblad and Montour return. — Dale Huber
Absolutely. The easiest way to look at this is who does not have to go through waivers — and it is a short list.
Mackie Samoskevich is one, Anton Lundell — who does not have to worry about the minors — is another. Michael Benning is also on the second year of his ELC so he can avoid waivers. Everyone else would be subject to waivers to go to the AHL — including Matt Kiersted, Grigori Denisenko and Lucas Carlsson.
Which Florida Panthers prospect has the best chance of cracking the lineup out of camp? Is this Denisenko’s year, does Mackie make the leap from college to the pros with virtually no AHL experience, how about Heponiemi? And on a follow-up, where do you envision each of these three players fitting in at a pro level, are they top six guys, mid level guys, fourth liners, what’s your personal opinion of each one, being that they are most likely the three best panther prospects at the moment. — SurveyJay
Well, it won’t be Heponiemi; he will be playing in Switzerland this season. With a one-way deal, I think we will see a lot of Denisenko this year — where he plays, that remains to be seen. But he is going to get a chance.
As for Samoskevich, he was obviously the best player at development camp but we’ll see if that translates to development camp/tournament and training camp. Because he can go to the AHL without facing waivers, my money is on Charlotte to start. As far as where these guys fit in, time will tell. Could Denisenko have received a better shot somewhere else? Probably. The Panthers are pretty stacked in their top-6. That could slow Mackie as well.
How does Toronto get away with placing Matt Murray on LTIR when their own coach Sheldon Keefe said during a press conference that he had been medically cleared to play LAST YEAR, during the playoffs? Is there any mechanism in place in the league where the league can challenge the validity of an injury? This seems like the most blatant and obvious circumvention of the cap yet, it’s things like this that allows GM’s to pass out horrible deals with no consequences, which in turn accelerates inflation amongst players salaries, I would think if some such mechanism existed now would be the time to put it in motion, no? Could you speak, briefly, on how the league tends to deal with these sort of things, do they investigate in any way, or is it just a sort of thing where they ask the player and he says yeah I’m injured does the league have a doctor that examines the player? I know guys, it’s a lot, my apologies. — SurveyJay
Well, if Matt Murray goes along with it, that’s that. The NHL does not enforce the LTIR situation as much as fans would like because the general managers do not want them to. With the cap being flat since Covid, teams find themselves in a tough spot. This gives GMs an out. If they wanted it changed, it would have been changed. But they do not — so it remains.
George, let’s talk money. The NHL AllStar game, Stanley Cup Finals, and season ticket sales is this the best financial season in organization history? How well did the organization do? — Harry Lampley
Yes, let’s talk money! There is little doubt this was the biggest season in franchise history when it comes to that. The playoff run not only increased their bottom line — they had nine home games which probably cleared $2-3 million each since players do not get paid during that time. Not to mention all of the merch sales, concessions, $100 parking spaces (for the Final) and the like. Plus, the team did very well in selling future season tickets which are apparently still doing well.
Hearing anything related to Ekblad and Montour and recovery windows yet (i.e. how far into the season before they expect to be back? We know Ekblad stays in South Florida all year round. Which other players have made this their year round spot? – Bryan Geary
No news on that front although Ekblad did have a couple of injuries which needed attention. We know Montour had a torn labrum which should be a four month rehab time. So, perhaps he is back on the ice in October and in the lineup on November.
As for players who live here year round — and why would you if you did not have to? — the only other player I know is Lomberg.
Goaltending questions: How quickly does the conversation on Bobrovsky’s contract come up again if Knight comes back strong this season? Did Bob’s performance at the end of the year and the playoffs do enough to quell that talk, at least in the short term? Also, why did the Cats move on from Lyon or was it that Lyon moved on because of greater playing time potential in Detroit? — Cats and Leafs
One thing no one really mentioned during Sergei Bobrovsky’s run through the playoffs was his contract — something that was a point of contention for the past couple of years. So, yeah, I think that talk has been calmed at least for a little bit.
As for Alex Lyon, it looks like the Florida Panthers felt Anthony Stolarz was an upgrade; the contract Lyon got in Detroit seemed to be in line with what the Panthers have Stolarz — so if they wanted to keep Lyon, they could have done so.
FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK