As 2023 draws to a close, with many positives and pleasant surprises the Florida Panthers look ahead for their New Year’s resolutions. While this year’s midterm did not end as the organization deeply desired, the hunt continues. So far this season a case was made for a similar run next postseason.
The Florida Panthers can be very grateful for many keys to their puzzle finally blending in unison and can focus on making others work for the road ahead.
Florida Panthers New Year’s Resolutions: What the Cats are Thankful For
First and foremost, the Florida Panthers are extremely appreciative of the roster they have built and the distance it took them, and can very well take them again. Past years have certainly not been as generous in that regard as the recent times in South Florida. Along that line, the Panthers are playing on a sold-out barn night in and night out. Panthers fans survived thousands of relocation rumours and can now enjoy a competitive team that sells every seat in one of the biggest arenas in the league. On next year’s resolutions, the Panthers organization will certainly include a wish for this. Turning this sold-out trend into a tradition. That comes with a winning team and mentality.
When talking about the on-ice product, the Panthers are thankful for most players on their roster, but maybe none more than for Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Despite whatever criticism can be made about their game on any given night, the Panthers are certain they have found their two cornerstones in the Finnish and American superstars. Of course, the Panthers are filled with gratitude for Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Sergei Bobrovsky, Aaron Ekblad, and many others, as well. However, Barkov and Tkachuk have a different impact both on the ice and in the community that outweighs the rest, without taking anything from their plate either.
Thankful for the GM Above: Bill Zito
Lastly, there is one thing many players on this team have in common, and that is they were looked at when not many other clubs looked at them. Reinhart, Gustav Forsling, Sam Bennett, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Ryan Lomberg, and Verhaeghe have all found a new home in Sunrise. And there is one person responsible for that: Bill Zito. Perhaps the best GM in the NHL, despite not having the award to show for it. Arriving from Columbus, Zito revolutionized the Panthers universe and along with his risky moves has changed the scenery around the team. He found gems where most teams failed to see potential and made the biggest trade in Florida Panthers history. Amidst an uproar of complaints and critics, Zito weathered the storm and nowadays nobody wonders who won that trade anymore. Everybody knows the Panthers won it and number 19 in the team is Exhibit A.
Florida Panthers New Year’s Resolutions: Making Changes to the Cats
Not one person on Earth could argue 2023 has been a bad year for the Cats, by any means. On the contrary, it has been one of the best in the franchise’s history. Nevertheless, changes can and, honestly, should be made. There is an evident problem in the scoring department. That is the Cats are scoring goals but are mainly by the same three players. That is not a recipe for success and even less during the playoffs. Of course, having Sam Reinhart on a tear right now is fun. Watching him score every game and whatnot. Then you have Verhaeghe being the main shooter for this team and sniping the puck on impossible angles for the goalies. However, that should not be the only way of scoring for the Panthers. It is not sustainable.
Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Montour scored the most points last season in the forwards and defencemen department, respectively. This season they have both returned from injuries and have been far from that scoring production. It is not a hit on both players, it is mainly a regard the coaching staff should work to remediate. Of course the Panthers are counting on Tkachuk to score when it really matters and he has shown that is his specialty.
Special Teams: Better but Room for Improvement
Special teams is an area of interest for the Panthers going forward and has been all season. The Cats’ power play is showing signs of improvement and gladfully so. A unit stacked with Barkov, Tkachuk, Reinhart, Verhaeghe, and Montour should not struggle as it has this season, although recent games may show a different status. However, the scoring machines Reino and Swaggy are keeping afloat the power play.
The penalty kill is killing it lately, no pun intended. They are getting the job done and more, even scoring when shorthanded. Their recent tests against the Tampa Bay Lightnings and New York Rangers power plays have shown the Panthers are the real deal in that area. However, the Panthers can turn out to be their own biggest threat. The Cats are among the top-five teams in penalty minutes. Putting themselves in the box is not a game the Cats want to get involved in. They are shooting themselves in the foot.
Florida Panthers New Year’s Resolutions: Making Wise Business and Economic Decisions
One last issue that keeps the Florida Panthers up at night is their finance department. And once the 2024 clock starts ticking, the deal will only get bigger for the Cats who are tight on the salary cap with contracts to extend or decisions to make. For example, Sam Reinhart. What topic on the Panthers does not mention Reinhart right now? The team’s best player currently is also a UFA when the 23/24 season comes to an end. Resigning him should be a no-brainer was it not for the fact Brandon Montour and Gustav Forsling become UFAs too. Zito will have to make moves to fluctuate around the less than 2 million on cap space and most likely one of the three mentioned will not wear the Panther logo when the puck drops for the 24/25 season.
Sam Reinhart hit the 20-goal mark for the seventh consecutive season and eighth time in his career while also securing his fifth game-winning goal of 2023-24 (one back of the League lead).#NHLStats: https://t.co/TwMtHiqpra pic.twitter.com/vRtxGRtW7o
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 28, 2023
Year 2024 is shaping up to be an interesting one in South Florida. Decisions made on it could turn the tide for the franchise for years to come. Bill Zito’s seat is in for a vertiginous ride, although the GM has shown great poise when the night gets dark.
As for the on-ice activities Paul Maurice has many focus points and knows this team is still missing one final twitch for it to be a contender. Whether that missing piece lies within the roster or may rise afloat in free agency is yet to be known.
Main Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
