Winning the Stanley Cup has a price. It gets even higher with three consecutive finals and back-to-back championships. After two years of aggressive forechecking and on-ice dominance, the Florida Panthers have experienced a sudden adverse effect.
Losses
First, Matthew Tkachuk had to make a difficult decision to undergo surgery and miss a significant portion of the upcoming season. He had to fix a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. Last season, Tkachuk collected 57 points (22 goals) and 54 penalty minutes in 52 regular season games. His ability to get under the skin of any opponent, distract, disorient, and create scoring chances for his team simultaneously is unmatched. He is the kind of player anyone would like to have on a team and hate to play against.
The Panthers aren’t about being the highest scoring team. They logged 246 goals last season (15th in the league). Every role counts. Preventing an opponent’s smart plays is another part of hockey. Tomas Nosek, the 33-year-old Czech forward who will be out for several months, has been a reliable and physical option for defensive plays. His absence due to an offseason injury and rehabilitation will be felt.
Alexander Barkov’s injury is heartbreaking for many reasons. Nobody expects to get hurt during the first regular on-ice team preseason practice. The Panthers’ captain immediately underwent surgery to repair the ACL and MCL in his right knee. Barkov is not someone who can be replaced easily. According to the head coach, Paul Maurice, it’s not part of the plan.
“There’s not a next man for Barky’s skates,” Maurice said.
Barkov had four 70-plus-point seasons in a row. He is one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL. The three-time Selke Trophy winner is known for his excellent and consistent performance.
So, it’s not about one playmaker. The entire lineup must step up and support one another. Short summers and less time to recover lead to more injuries. Even though the Panthers’ head coach was clear in his hopes for other leaders to step up, rumors are just another side of the hockey business.
Off The Chart
The 33-year-old Evgeny Kuznetsov, once a high-caliber center, is unemployed. Kuznetsov had one 80-plus-point season in 2017-2018 and three 70-plus-point seasons in the NHL. His faceoff-winning percentage was under 50% for the entire 10 year NHL run. He won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018.
Kuznetsov hasn’t performed at his prime for years and has had constant health and substance use issues. It’s one of the reasons why his career fell short in the NHL and KHL. His agent, Shumi Babaev, uses social media to remind everyone that his client is looking for a job, preferably in the NHL. Somehow, it sparked a rumor mill suggesting that the Panthers may consider Kuznetsov as a temporary replacement for Barkov.
Kuznetsov is doubtfully a good fit for Maurice’s success formula: physicality, harsh forechecking, and a full-scale selfless dedication. This rumor has no basis beyond the fact that someone is seeking clicks and reposts.
Losing two playmakers to injuries is a hard pill to swallow. However, the entire organization must take it step by step. The reigning champions have opened the training camp with an extensive roster, consisting of 72 players. On Monday, Sept. 29, 52 men continued their NHL training camp. The coaching staff will rely on the force that they have built and make some other unpopular decisions to cover up their losses.
What’s next? The Panthers will have to face the Tampa Bay Lightning three times this week. The first stop is at Kia Center in Orlando. Then, each team will have a chance to taste a home ice against each other. The Bolts haven’t made any significant lineup additions during the summer. Considering its own complications, it’s encouraging news for the Cats.
The message is simple: the Panthers won’t make it easy for anyone, as usual.