Strengths
Despite the Panthers’ losses, the bulk of the core that led the team to capture the Stanley Cup in seven games against the Edmonton Oilers remains and while that doesn’t mean that the players who left aren’t important to the team’s performance on the ice, the positive part that Florida’s roster has is stability and that is a value that few clubs currently have, as it is accompanied by experience and cohesion.
Physical style. Eight of the 10 players who dealt the most hits to their opponents last season remain with the organization, which can only mean that the Panthers will not lose even a bit of that style of play that has earned them respect and made their presence felt on the ice, especially in the playoffs, an instance in which this quality is most valued.
Areas for improvement
Discipline. Having a team with an implicit physical game has its advantages, such as setting the tone of a game and making it clear to the opponent that it will be one of those uncomfortable games. But it also has a cost and that is penalty minutes, an area in which the Panthers led the NHL with an average of 13.6 penalty minutes per game. Their penalty killing unit (82.4%) was the sixth best in the league in 2023-24 and they could afford that luxury, but the risk of conceding goals when outnumbered is latent.
Best prospects
The 24th pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Mackie Samoskevich, could take advantage of the absences on the secondary line to earn a roster spot in the 2024-25 season. The 21-year-old forward made his debut with the Panthers last season, playing just seven games with the big team, having spent most of his time with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.
They will qualify for the playoffs if…
Things are certainly going to get hotter in the Atlantic Division because the rest of the teams made moves with the intention of improving and it is the champion’s division, an opportunity to be more visible. With that in mind, the fight for the playoff ticket will be a fierce battle and although the Panthers have the advantage for having been division champions in 2023-24, the path to repeat will be complicated, although that does not mean that Florida is leaving the pool of clubs that have a good chance of making the postseason. On the contrary, it would be a surprise if they did not qualify.
