The Florida Panthers are, by many estimations, the class of the NHL. The reigning Eastern Conference champions have had a great deal of success over the past two seasons, winning the Presidents Trophy in 2021–22 and advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals last season. With as good a chance as any to win the Presidents Trophy, awarded to the top regular season team, likely the Eastern Conference favourites heading into the playoffs, and not to mention the team that elongated the Leafs last season, the Panthers will hardly be sneaking up on anyone this playoffs.
The Panthers, of course, possess the high end skill requisite of an elite team, but by far their stylistic calling card is a conviction in aggressive physical and defensive intensity. The Panthers will pressure the puck, contest every inch of ice, and relish in confrontation. Most of all, the Panthers are able to lock up the middle of their defensive zone, making it hard for opponents to gain puck control or generate shots in scoring areas.
There have been some changes to the Panthers roster since last season, but undoubtedly there are a number of similarities to the team that dismantled the Leafs in the second round. Let’s take a deeper look at the Panthers to preview what a playoff series against the Leafs might look like.
Forwards
Projected lines
Tarasenko — Barkov — Reinhart
Tkachuk — Bennett — Verhaeghe
Luostarinen — Lundell — Rodrigues
Cousins — Stenlund — Okposo
Extras: Lomberg, Gadjovich, Lockwood, Lorentz
The Panthers build out their lines with three duos in mind. Alex Barkov and Sam Reinhart have brought the best out of each other, perhaps even enjoying the convergence of their finest seasons. A contract year for Reinhart, the winger has put up an astounding goal total, thoroughly shedding any disappointment that lingered from his time with the Buffalo Sabres. Barkov is one of the premier centres in the league, though often in consideration for the Selke Trophy more than the Hart Trophy. Their line will control the puck, and might be able to outplay any line they are matched up against.
The next duo is Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. The former Calgary Flames were both Brad Treliving draft picks, imbued with the requisite “snot” that Treliving has searched for in his first season as Leafs GM. Bennett and Tkachuk bring a physical edge to the game, and will at times prioritise intimidation while on the ice. Both are still quite skilled, especially Tkachuk who showed a clutch gene in last season’s playoff run. This line will look to dictate the emotional state of the game.
The final duo is Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell. Like Barkov and Reinhart, Luostarinen and Lundell are very defensively responsible, and can shut down opponents. Luostarinen has a high motor and strong fundamentals, a big body with enough mobility and skill to be a reliable forward in every situation. Lundell is younger, possessing more draft pedigree and offensive upside, playing a very functional game, simple and direct with or without the puck.
Carter Verhaeghe, once a Leafs draft pick, has been a quality top-six winger for a few years now, likely the most impactful of the remaining forwards thanks to a great shot and an element of skating speed. Vladimir Tarasenko still has some offensive game left, but has yet to find a home in the Panthers lineup. Evan Rodrigues is very versatile, and has been contributing throughout the top nine of several NHL teams in the last handful of seasons. Defined most by his smarts, Rodrigues is more than good enough to be a positive impact with any of the Panthers forward duos.
All three of Kyle Okposo, Kevin Stenlund, and Nick Cousins could play on an NHL third line. Okposo a veteran power forward who has authored a nice late career returning from a long and convoluted injury absence. After starting the season as the Sabres captain, Okposo is a very well respected player, once John Tavares’ linemate on the New York Islanders. Stenlund has had a great run in the Panthers bottom six, and has undoubtedly earned another NHL contract in his future. Cousins is becoming notorious as a disturber, often turtling amidst some chaos he created. Ryan Lomberg offers some agitation as well, a firecracker who will never short the team on effort.
With a good mix of forwards in style of play and personality, it is evident that the Panthers are a force to be reckoned with. There are many Panthers forwards who are admirable, vigilant, responsible, and cerebral defenders, just as there are on-ice villains, bullies, and scoundrels. Given their recent success and overall disposition, it must be conceded that the Panthers have an elite forward group.
Defencemen
Projected pairings
Forsling — Ekblad
Mikkola — Montour
Kulikov — Ekman-Larsson
Extras: Mahura, Reilly, Balinskis, Bjornfot
The Panthers have a really good blueline, a solid top four, some veteran contributors, and reasonable depth behind. Their top two pairs follow a similar pattern, pairing high end right shots with less heralded and complimentary left shots.
As a former first overall pick, Aaron Ekblad is well known. With good length and strength, and solid mobility, Ekblad is a smart player on both sides of the puck. There is an offensive lean to his game, though this doesn’t always materialise as highlight reel manoeuvres. Availability has been the only real issue in Ekblad’s career, though injured now it seems as though he will be ready come playoff time.
Brandon Montour was once thought of as one of the top young defencemen in the league as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. His reputation crumbled as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, a common refrain apparently, but as a Panther Montour has shown he is still a dynamic player. Montour is the flashiest offensive skillset, challenging opponents with his great mobility and assertive activations into the rush.
Gustav Forsling came to the Panthers off of waivers, and has been improving in the seasons ever since. While Barkov is eternally mentioned as the NHL’s most underrated player, Forsling might have a better claim at this point. A legitimate top pairing defenceman, Forsling has great conditioning and skating. Though not physically imposing by size or punishment extolled, Forsling is an imposing defensive force, with the feet, stick, and strength to handle any situation. Niko Mikkola is more the archetypal defensive defenceman, complimenting Montour’s strengths well.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been much more effective as a Panther than he was as a Vancouver Canuck, though most of this is health related. In either case Ekman-Larsson is playing good defensively, and still offers some skills as an offensive defenceman. After Montour and Ekblad, all of the Panthers defencemen are left shots. We should expect the Panthers to use one of their more skilled puck movers on their weak side, as Josh Mahura and Mike Reilly join Ekman-Larsson in this category.
The Panthers blueline is more skilled than it was last season. While the Panthers as a whole have a snarly reputation, the blueline is quite skilled. Still, a less physical Panthers blueline has produced outstanding defensive results through their share of injuries, including missing both Ekblad and Montour to start the season.
A strong power play
The Panthers have a great power play that generates a lot of shots from the middle of the ice. With the top unit this usually means shots from Tkachuk at the net front, Reinhart at the high slot bumper, and Montour from the middle of the blueline. Barkov and Verhaeghe work the flanks. The most common goal we see is Barkov finding Reinhart with a short pass into the high slot for a quick one timer.
That being said all five players are dangerous, a big part of what makes the unit as a whole so strong. Their chemistry together is undeniable as well, and the group’s success in generating shots from the middle seems to be stylistically reliable.
An exceptional penalty kill
At full health, Ekblad and Forsling will be the top penalty killing defence pairing, with Mikkola and Kulikov in behind. Up front the Panthers will use Luostarinen and Stenlund most, with Barkov and Reinhart as the second group. The Panthers have done exceptionally well in limiting shots from the middle of the ice, as they are at even strength.
The willingness to give Barkov and Reinhart meaningful minutes on both special teams points to their belief in their depth at even strength. With three of their four regular centres on the penalty kill, often the Panthers will send out a line with Bennett and Tkachuk to help set the tone after killing off a penalty. Once again, the Panthers core principles of defensive focus and physical intensity are evidenced within the fabric of their deployment.
Goaltending
The Panthers have received excellent goaltending over the season, even going back to last season’s playoff run. A rare two-time Vezina Trophy winner, Sergei Bobrovsky has been in top form over that stretch. Athletic and acrobatic, much ado has been made of Bobrovsky’s workload and keeping the goalie rested enough to be at his best. On pace for something close to 60 games played on the season, the Panthers have yet to show much interest in prioritising rest despite their consistent standing near the top of the league.
Anthony Stolarz has done well as the backup. Stolarz is in range to surpass his career high for games started at 23, and has done so with sterling raw stats. Stolarz is far from the most heralded goalie in the league, but performed quite well in his limited performances with the Anaheim Fucks over the past four seasons.
That said there is a curious wrinkle thanks to current third string and AHL starter Spencer Knight. Knight missed some time last season to focus on his mental health, but has returned to regular action. Getting back into regular action and honing his craft has clearly been the Charlotte Checkers starter. A highly touted young goalie, just 22 years old, Knight has a good shot at a long and bright future as an NHL goalie. The chance to see Knight in net for the Panthers exists should the Panthers suffer an injury, and has the quality to be an option. In all the Panthers should feel comfortable with their goaltending in both skill and depth.
History against the Leafs
The Leafs loss to the Panthers in last season’s second round series is still fresh in the minds of Leafs Nation. The Panthers physically outmatched the Leafs, bullying their way to a relatively easy series win. The Panthers controlled the middle of the ice and squeezed the Leafs, eliminating attacks and forcing turnovers. The Panthers would be looking to enact a similar plan this playoff season, and as one of the leading contenders across the league would be the favourite in a series against the Leafs.
Beyond the inherent chaos of hockey there is hope from a Leafs perspective. Ultimately the team has to believe that their mix of players is better this season, that GM Brad Treleving has added enough of his patented snot into the lineup. At the very least the Leafs should be expected to put up a stiffer test for the Panthers this year.
The Panthers have the edge on paper, and in several key categories no less. This includes even strength defending, special teams, blueline quality, and of course goaltending. The Leafs might have an edge up front, though truly it might go either way. The Leafs might be better equipped to equal the Panthers physicality this season, or at least might have forged an identity that allows the team to stand up for itself more effectively against the Panthers.
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