Good chance the Panthers will miss playoffs this year, but Tampa looks like a real contender.
If it were anybody else, like the Leafs, I’d say the Panthers are done for, but this team isn’t your average team.
The core guys of this team were the same guys that manufactured a late season surge that saw them make the playoffs 3 years ago and went all the way to the Cup Finals. That team lost in the Final that year but they came back even stronger to be the back to back, defending Cup Champions who beat McDavid twice.
That team has proven time and time again that they will not quit, they will not give up. They are just now getting healthy and basically had almost two weeks off. Their star players are either Gold or Silver medalists and their goalie wasn’t allowed to participate so I’d wager he absolutely has something to prove.
Tampa Bay is definitely the front runner in the East but this Panther team can’t be counted out until it’s proven otherwise.
They played too much playoff of hockey for the last few seasons and as result some leaders are injured, including Captain.
Even Tkachuk needs some off time from the hockey. Sure they are great team, but nothing is going to happen this season in my opinion.