Sunday Overreactions: How Panthers are in actual hazard of lacking playoffs

It was pure elation for the Florida Panthers this previous summer time. Not solely did they win their second of back-to-back Stanley Cups after their third straight look within the Final, however in addition they retained Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad on prolonged contract extensions. Things can change quick within the NHL, although. 

A December win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday felt approach too essential than it needs to be for this workforce. The determined Panthers squad erased a three-goal deficit after which one other two-goal deficit to tug one out proper on the buzzer in additional time for a much-needed victory. Another loss may have been disastrous.  

Even with that win the Panthers nonetheless discover themselves in second final within the East, because of some key accidents and inconsistent play. Thursday’s loss to Nashville was a crushing blow, as most groups have been choosing up two factors towards the Predators this season. I don’t suppose anybody wouldn’t imagine within the Panthers in the event that they qualify for the playoffs, it doesn’t matter what seed they’re, however they’re beginning to dig themselves an enormous gap they might not be capable to get out of.  

Florida won’t make the post-season 

As it stands in the present day, the Panthers are 5 factors out of third within the Atlantic and 5 factors out of a wild card spot. They stay within the combine because of a really mediocre Atlantic division and a convention the place nobody is working away with issues. Still, even when these odds don’t look insurmountable, it’s not at all times about what number of factors again you’re versus what number of groups you must cross.  

With the loser level resulting in a lot of three-point video games, you must go on a extremely nice run to make up floor. That’s very true in Florida’s case, with six groups between them and the playoff cutoff line. The Panthers must play at a .616 factors share the remainder of the best way to succeed in 95 factors, which ought to give them an opportunity at a wild card spot. That’s simpler mentioned than achieved, although, as Florida performed at a lower than .600 clip once they completed third within the Atlantic a 12 months in the past, with a a lot more healthy workforce. It’s going to be an actual uphill climb for the Panthers to defend their title.  

What’s actually working towards the Panthers right here is accidents. Perhaps Aleksander Barkov shall be out there for the post-season, however that received’t matter if Florida doesn’t get there first. Matthew Tkachuk has additionally missed substantial time and needs to be again ahead of later, although it stays to be seen how a lot of a lift that can give the lineup. Those are the 2 greatest names the Panthers have been lacking however different extra below the radar losses like Eetu Luostarinen and Dmitry Kulikov have additionally taken a toll. Kulikov has performed solely one-and-a-half video games this season, resulting in a ripple impact of Seth Jones, Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad having to soak up extra ice time. Any hope of Florida managing a few of its veteran’s minutes has gone out the door with all of the accidents.  

Brad Marchand is having a fantastic 12 months, however different key Panthers aren’t delivering what we’re accustomed to. Carter Verhaeghe is trending in the direction of simply 20 or so objectives once more after averaging 38 from 2022-2024, Sam Reinhart is scoring lower than a point-per-game for less than the second time in 5 seasons and Forsling, who was a mixed plus-89 over the previous two seasons, is barely sitting at plus-three proper now.  

Not to say Sergei Bobrovsky, whose numbers are beginning to slip. At 37 years previous and after three very deep playoff runs, the Panthers netminder isn’t having a banner season, sporting an .881 save share and rating solely fiftieth in objectives saved above anticipated. Bobrovsky’s save share would rank because the worst of his profession and the one different time he had a mark under .900 was again in 2011-12. It can be silly to write down off Bobrovsky but, but it surely’s exhausting to see him getting higher because the season drags on contemplating how a lot further hockey he’s performed over the previous three springs.  

Every workforce has been attempting to determine a option to beat the Panthers within the post-season and the perfect reply is perhaps to easily attempt to preserve them out of the playoffs altogether.  

Jason Robertson deserves a spot on Team USA 

Robertson actually picked a very good time to go on an unimaginable heater. The Dallas Stars ahead can’t be stopped over the previous month, tallying 26 factors in November and Robertson now has 15 objectives in his previous 13 video games. That has vaulted him up the ranks in terms of the dialog for the American Olympic workforce after Robertson wasn’t included on the Four Nations squad. Robertson can be due for a contract extension that’s going to incorporate a considerable increase, as he’s now on tempo for 105 factors. That’s a complete many felt Robertson couldn’t get again to after he cleared the century mark again within the 2022-23 season. Even with all of the expertise USA has, it’s exhausting to think about Robertson not being included within the Olympic squad given how effectively he’s taking part in.  

The Americans are loaded at ahead, however you’d need to suppose there’s room for a participant that’s producing at an elite degree on one of many league’s greatest groups. You can convey an additional ahead to the Olympics for a complete of 14 and let’s assume Chris Kreider, Brock Nelson and Vincent Trocheck don’t make the reduce this time round, which would depart: 

Auston Matthews 
Jack Hughes 
Jack Eichel 
Matt Boldy 
Matthew Tkachuk 
Brady Tkachuk 
Dylan Larkin 
Clayton Keller 
Tage Thompson 
Jake Guentzel 
Kyle Connor 
JT Miller 
Cole Caufield 
Jason Robertson 

That’s not even together with Alex Tuch, who some might have on their ultimate rosters, however I can’t see Tuch, Trocheck, Nelson or Kreider overtaking Robertson for a roster spot. He’s simply been too good.  

Hurricanes want so as to add a goalie 

The Carolina Hurricanes have massive expectations as soon as once more this season and are decided to recover from the hump and into the Stanley Cup Final, however dangerous goaltending may doubtlessly derail these plans. I’m unsure the Canes deliberate on Brandon Bussi even being on the roster this 12 months, not to mention being their most essential netminder. Bussi has been wonderful since Carolina plucked him off waivers from Florida again in October, going 8-1-0 with 5.4 objectives saved above anticipated. But therein lies the issue, Bussi shouldn’t be that essential to the Canes. Pyotr Kochetkov has missed all however 5 video games with accidents and Frederik Andersen has struggled mightily in 2025-26. It can be silly for Carolina to financial institution on the inexperienced Bussi taking part in this fashion for the rest of the season, so they might need to look into including somebody for insurance coverage if Kochetkov and Andersen can’t solidify the crease.  

There are a handful of groups which are probably out there for a goalie proper now, together with Montreal and Edmonton, however there isn’t an apparent improve on the market for Carolina. Even although Andersen’s numbers have been dreadful this season, with solely three high quality begins on the 12 months and the truth that he hasn’t posted a save share higher than .850 in 5 straight outings, generally the satan you understand is best than the one you don’t in internet.  

Adding a goalie is less complicated mentioned than achieved and the handful of choices out there in the mean time all have flaws. Jordan Binnington and Tristan Jarry could possibly be in play, in addition to Laurent Brossoit, who’s on a conditioning stint within the AHL. It’s not like these three don’t include potential issues of their very own. Elvis Merzlikins and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen might also be out there, however the acquisition price can be excessive. Perhaps there’s one other exterior the field possibility we’re not seeing that the Canes can look into as effectively, however goalies are by no means a positive factor. If I used to be Carolina, I’d relatively financial institution on Andersen’s recreation enhancing and Kochetkov getting wholesome to assist help Bussi.  

Caps will end first within the East once more 

The Washington Capitals shocked a lot of the hockey world final season by claiming essentially the most factors within the Eastern Conference and it actually doesn’t appear like a fluke. After overcoming a four-game dropping streak in late October, the Caps have righted the ship and have now received 9 of their previous 11 video games. They’ve additionally outscored their opponents 31-12 of their final seven and now have the perfect purpose differential within the East at plus-26, second solely to Colorado and Dallas in the whole NHL. There was some concern that Washington would regress this season primarily based on a lot of gamers having profession years in 2024-25 with inflated capturing percentages, however proper now they appear like a wagon once more. The Capitals are main the East and will have an opportunity to run away with it given the best way they’ve been taking part in these days.  

In a really mediocre Eastern Conference, the Caps might have the perfect shot of beginning to create far between them and the remainder of the pack. They are principally wholesome, minus Ryan Leonard taking place Friday night time, the place different contenders for the convention crown like Tampa Bay and New Jersey are coping with key accidents. Meanwhile, Carolina bought off to a fantastic begin however they’ve slowed down a good bit. Washington is beginning to click on on all cylinders they usually don’t have any obtrusive weaknesses.  

Logan Thompson leads the league in objectives saved above anticipated. John Carlson is having a renaissance season and Jakob Chychrun is on tempo to shatter final 12 months’s 20-goal whole. Alex Ovechkin can be beginning to come round and is now on tempo for a 40-goal season at age 40. Not to say Leonard is beginning to present flashes of what may make him a premier energy ahead sooner relatively than later. The Caps are a deep workforce and you must actually squint to seek out any flaws proper now.  

The Sabres will remorse buying and selling for Josh Norris 

If you have been judging in the present day, you’d haven’t any alternative however to confess the Ottawa Senators received the Dylan Cozens and Josh Norris swap. Cozens has been a really efficient participant for the Sens since arriving in Ottawa, whereas Norris has been restricted to simply seven video games throughout elements of two seasons for the Sabres. Those seven video games have been wonderful, although, as Norris has totaled seven factors in these outings, with 5 of them coming in solely 4 contests this season. Norris’ expertise has by no means been in query, it’s at all times been his well being. Injuries have plagued Norris relentlessly all through his profession and eventually led the Sens to shifting him, regardless of his upside and expertise. We merely haven’t seen Norris within the lineup sufficient to belief he will be an impression participant.  

I can’t imagine Norris’s luck is that this dangerous. The accidents don’t appear to be associated and it’s exhausting to think about him lacking large chunks of time for the rest of his keep in Buffalo. Norris is making lower than $8M per 12 months for the subsequent 4 seasons past this one, which isn’t an exorbitant quantity if Norris finally ends up being a high line participant for the Sabres. It additionally could possibly be large for Tage Thompson if the 2 can develop chemistry collectively. There needs to be a minimum of delicate concern that Thompson may need out if Buffalo continues to battle. Hopefully taking part in with a centre like Norris and connecting with him for a bunch of factors will make Thompson need to keep.  

The Sabres do have plenty of expertise up entrance and if Norris can keep wholesome there’s no motive to imagine he can’t be a 70-point participant for them on a very good worth contract.