The back-to-back champions are back on the ice. The Florida Panthers, led by Head Coach Paul Maurice, returned to the Amerant Bank Arena on Oct. 7, and as a newfound hockey fan, I could not be more excited.
In their first game back, the energy was palpable. As I watched the game on my television screen, I felt like I was watching the same Stanley Cup team as last year. Signing stars like Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett, amongst others, have officially hooked me to this team.
Being someone who used to watch the Stanley Cup Final cluelessly, I have had a complete change of heart. Now, going to a Panthers game this season is something on my bucket list, as I have become attached to the team’s energy and “Rat” culture.
Once I saw the spirit, drive and inspiration of this team and the brotherly bond they have, I knew I was hooked, and they had gained a new fan.
Most Panther fans have a positive outlook on how the season will unfold, myself included; however, this year has started with a few setbacks.
Their captain, Aleksander ‘Sasha’ Barkov, had a devastating injury this offseason, which may result in his absence from the rink for the entirety of the regular season. Similarly, Matthew Tkachuk’s injury is another that crushed the team. Tkachuk underwent surgery for a torn hip adductor and sports hernia, which moves him out of the lineup until December.
Another challenge the Panthers will be tested with is their schedule. Although they start most of their season with home games, the second half of their regular season is mostly spent traveling. The Panthers have dealt with the bumps and bruises of lots of movement; they have played more games in three years, including the playoffs, than any other team in the National Hockey League’s history. Playing for the Stanley Cup versus Edmonton for two years, and going to the sixth and seventh games both years, will do that to you. The Panthers will have even more miles under their belts this year due to half of their regular roster being part of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The Milan-Cortina Olympics are the 2026 Winter Games, where a lot of the Florida Panthers’ players will be representing their home nation.
Last year, the Panthers’ largest asset lay in their ability to play defense and prevent explosive power-play goals. This year, they hope that their returning players, who are playing in the same scheme, will produce the same results.
An additional asset for this Panther’s team is their goaltender: Sergei Bobrovsky. Over the course of this 37-year-old Russian’s career, he has a .914 save percentage, which is in the top 10% in the league. His ability to defend the net has exponentially helped the Panthers’ defense in creating their identity of attacking the puck.
The leadership on this team is essential, and without Barkov being on the ice for most of the season, the person who steps into that role is something that I will be monitoring throughout the year.
As the season unfolds, South Florida and Panthers fans across the globe will wave their rally towels and cheer their team all the way to a Stanley Cup three-peat.
