Florida Panthers Preview 2021
In their 27 NHL seasons, Florida has been to the playoffs just seven times. Our Florida Panthers preview 2021 - 22 observes they’ve only made it past the first round once. That one time that they went further than the initial round was 1995-96 when the Panthers went to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the final series, they lost to the Avalanche 0-4 games. In the last two seasons, the Panthers have been to the postseason. In both Cup appearances, they never got past the first round.
Panthers - Key Skaters
The Panther offense and defense are more than solid. Our Florida Panthers preview 2021 - 22 finds that both are top five in the NHL. Prime point makers include center Aleksander Barkov and wings Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Duclair. Both Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling offer top-notch D. There’s plenty of depth with centers Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart and wing Carter Verhaeghe offering solid play. Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar should not be underestimated. This crew has great plus potential, as they push goal and assist totals up.
Florida Panthers Preview 2021 – Goaltending
The netminding situation is intriguing. It’s also confusing. Spencer Knight, who in limited action last season, looked like the real thing, is Florida’s goaltender of the future. This season, as a rookie, might the talented 20-year-old take over the primary netminding duties from 33-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky? Bobrovsky has a $10 million Average Annual Value contract with five years remaining and a full no-movement clause. He is virtually untradeable.
Florida Panthers Preview 2021 – Final Word
In developing our Florida Panthers preview 2021 - 22, we offer an update. Since we first published our preview, Panthers’ head coach Joel Quenneville resigned in the wake of the investigation into former Chicago Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich. Aldrich allegedly sexually assaulted prospect Kyle Beach during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. During that time, Quenneville and the rest of the Blackhawks' senior leadership team decided to defer any action on Aldrich until after the Stanley Cup Finals. It’s reported that Quenneville, who previously disavowed any knowledge of the assault, was then concerned that the controversy would create a distraction before the Finals. After the Finals, Aldrich was allowed to quietly resign. Florida assistant Andrew Brunette was named the interim head coach and will guide the team. Brunette has no head coaching experience.
NHL Atlantic Division - Florida Panthers Projection 2021
Finish: 4th
Stanley Cup Appearance
Eliminated Round Two