ECF: Florida Panthers (A3) vs Carolina Hurricanes (M3) - PANTHERS WIN 4-1

[Samonadreau]

Not sure was a Bizzard is, but I want one.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

You...you can join us.

Dont do it!

[DeluxeMoustache]

^^^ Groot… That’s why I said co built :-)

Jim Nill is 2x reigning GM champ because Tre and Zito can’t share it haha

[Groot]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

^^^ Groot… That’s why I said co built :-)

Jim Nill is 2x reigning GM champ because Tre and Zito can’t share it haha

I know, i just used it as a jumping off point to highlight how lucky the Panthers have been the past several years to get to this point.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Groot

The amount of things that had to go just right to get the Panthers here is absurd.

A 35-year of Bobrovsky finds his game again at an elite level
One of the best waiver pickups ever in Forsling
A 12th overall pick turns into a >0.70 PPG in the playoffs by his 3rd season in Lundell
Not one, but THREE buy low trade candidates that then took their game to another level after arriving in Florida. Bennett, Reinhart, Jones.
Picking up a young, 24-year old former Cup Winner that becomes a playoff stud, because a team leaves them unqualified because of cap constraints in Verhaege.
A GM screws up and let's an elite player force his way to RFA or be traded, have that player choose the Panthers and have their former team like the Panthers offer the best in Tkachuk.
And finally their top 1 and 2 picks a decade ago actually turned into elite players, unlike dozens of others selected in the same spots, with Barkov and Ekblad.

All very fortuitous and I'm happy for the Panthers, especially if all the above is what causes McDavid to leave Edmonton without any Cups.

True but they had to suck for quite a while which let them draft the pieces to become what they are now. Hubey 3rd overall 2011, Barkov 2nd overall 2013, Ekblad 1st overall 2014. They also sniped Weegar at 206th overall in 2013, helping them eventually land Chucky.

A lot has gone right for them. Being a warm weather low tax state is a huge advantage they have as well. I don't think it's a coincidence that a south Florida team has represented the east 6 straight times.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Groot

The amount of things that had to go just right to get the Panthers here is absurd.

A 35-year of Bobrovsky finds his game again at an elite level
One of the best waiver pickups ever in Forsling
A 12th overall pick turns into a >0.70 PPG in the playoffs by his 3rd season in Lundell
Not one, but THREE buy low trade candidates that then took their game to another level after arriving in Florida. Bennett, Reinhart, Jones.
Picking up a young, 24-year old former Cup Winner that becomes a playoff stud, because a team leaves them unqualified because of cap constraints in Verhaege.
A GM screws up and let's an elite player force his way to RFA or be traded, have that player choose the Panthers and have their former team like the Panthers offer the best in Tkachuk.
And finally their top 1 and 2 picks a decade ago actually turned into elite players, unlike dozens of others selected in the same spots, with Barkov and Ekblad.

All very fortuitous and I'm happy for the Panthers, especially if all the above is what causes McDavid to leave Edmonton without any Cups.

Agree with your points.

However, my grandfather always said you make your own luck. Everything you listed above are clever moves where they got younger, left spots open for guys in their own organization, or filled with cheap vets.

Bobvrosky was a large mistake in the UFA market, until recently...but he was still a skilled guy at one point.

Making our own luck Flames addition:

1. Have more than 7 picks every draft the next 5yrs
2. 2 yrs where we pick in the top 10...ideally with multiple 1sts in those years from jettisoning UFAs/RFAs
3. Sign 1 skilled UFA vet to a PTO at fwd and 1 at D each season as a mentor
4. Leave spots open to grow from within, and use young players to fill holes. DO NOT sign vets to take bottom 6 or bottom 4 positions. If we're bad we're bad because of growing pains here.
5. Jettison RFA/upcoming UFA players that don't fit your age window. Since we don't have a #1 or #2 center, well technically we don't have an age window at the moment.

Where we won't make our own luck.

1. Keeping veteran players on retirement deals
2. Red paper clip strategy - where we think we can trade up for a #1 or #2 center, it depletes our draft assets, that yes have a probability against them, but they're acquisition cost is less
3. Signing big ticket / big term UFAs
4. Trading draft picks
5. Ignoring the fact our age window hasn't opened yet. Parekh and Wolf are the start of a core...we're still missing a #1 C. Wolf (if he lives up to the hype) can play 10-12yrs at a high level, same with Parekh. Zary and Coronato are 9-10yrs, and more likely in their 4-5yr window at the moment. Lock them up, but we shouldn't be building around them.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

True but they had to suck for quite a while which let them draft the pieces to become what they are now. Hubey 3rd overall 2011, Barkov 2nd overall 2013, Ekblad 1st overall 2014. They also sniped Weegar at 206th overall in 2013, helping them eventually land Chucky.

A lot has gone right for them. Being a warm weather low tax state is a huge advantage they have as well. I don't think it's a coincidence that a south Florida team has represented the east 6 straight times.

They still sucked after drafting Barkov and Ekblad. It wasn't until all the other things fell into place for them that they became an elite team.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

A lot has gone right for them. Being a warm weather low tax state is a huge advantage they have as well. I don't think it's a coincidence that a south Florida team has represented the east 6 straight times.

I equate this to a 10% advantage on the salary cap...or 1 extra skilled forward/D.

Definitely a help, but not insurmountable. Northern / high tax teams need to build their organizations from within given the current rule set at the moment is all.

Not having any bad money on your team is more than a 10% advantage. So really a team that avoided 30+ contracts, UFAs, and more than 5yr+ deals for guys over 25 could even things up quick.

[Rhett44]

Nice Panthers!!!

Now, please for the love of God, do not forget how to play hockey like every other team does against the Oilers. If they play their game they have a great chance

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Groot

The amount of things that had to go just right to get the Panthers here is absurd.

A 35-year of Bobrovsky finds his game again at an elite level
One of the best waiver pickups ever in Forsling
A 12th overall pick turns into a >0.70 PPG in the playoffs by his 3rd season in Lundell
Not one, but THREE buy low trade candidates that then took their game to another level after arriving in Florida. Bennett, Reinhart, Jones.
Picking up a young, 24-year old former Cup Winner that becomes a playoff stud, because a team leaves them unqualified because of cap constraints in Verhaege.
A GM screws up and let's an elite player force his way to RFA or be traded, have that player choose the Panthers and have their former team like the Panthers offer the best in Tkachuk.
And finally their top 1 and 2 picks a decade ago actually turned into elite players, unlike dozens of others selected in the same spots, with Barkov and Ekblad.

All very fortuitous and I'm happy for the Panthers, especially if all the above is what causes McDavid to leave Edmonton without any Cups.

Penguins losing at home to the Bedard tanking Hawks at home to gift the Panthers a playoff spot with 92 points. They didn't win that year but they gained all the confidence and Bob got his game back after starting the playoffs as a backup.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

I equate this to a 10% advantage on the salary cap...or 1 extra skilled forward/D.

Definitely a help, but not insurmountable. Northern / high tax teams need to build their organizations from within given the current rule set at the moment is all.

Not having any bad money on your team is more than a 10% advantage. So really a team that avoided 30+ contracts, UFAs, and more than 5yr+ deals for guys over 25 could even things up quick.

7 of the last 10 cup finalists from tax free states...and the Oilers who won 4 straight draft lotteries which is not allowed anymore

[FanIn80]

The tax thing in Florida is just a bonus. Yes, there are only a handful of teams that can offer it, but in Florida it’s just considered a nice benefit that their players enjoy. I can’t imagine Zito being interested in anyone who’s only in it for the taxes… and even if someone slipped through the cracks and got in the room… imagine having to look Barkov in the eye if you’re someone like that. Or Chucky, Bennett, Versnaggy, Ekblad, etc etc etc.

The culture in both Florida teams is the same. They only want team-first players who are hungry, driven and willing to buy in 100%. You have to meet that criteria first, and then you get to enjoy the taxes and the weather.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Just came home from surgery and I’mhugh and Hugh in this win. Go Chicky Bennett and the boys.

Hall of fame post.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

You...you can join us.

What is the other fan's name?

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Just came home from surgery and I’mhugh and Hugh in this win. Go Chicky Bennett and the boys.

Wow. I can barely tell the difference between anesthesia you and every day you.


Hope all went well.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Tampa Bay x3 finals appearances followed by Florida x3 finals appearances.

Flames won their cup after the oilers won
Oilers went to the finals the season after the Flames did

Considering this trend among state/provincial rivals, are we in for some deep runs in 1-2 years in "response" to what the oilers are doing?

[Andrew]

Rod sounds like he is from southern states no?

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

You...you can join us.

I'll borrow my allegiance for the final if you play Edmonton. Otherwise, as a lifelong Jets fan, I'm not sure I'm equipped to deal with success.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Groot

The amount of things that had to go just right to get the Panthers here is absurd.

A 35-year of Bobrovsky finds his game again at an elite level
One of the best waiver pickups ever in Forsling
A 12th overall pick turns into a >0.70 PPG in the playoffs by his 3rd season in Lundell
Not one, but THREE buy low trade candidates that then took their game to another level after arriving in Florida. Bennett, Reinhart, Jones.
Picking up a young, 24-year old former Cup Winner that becomes a playoff stud, because a team leaves them unqualified because of cap constraints in Verhaege.
A GM screws up and let's an elite player force his way to RFA or be traded, have that player choose the Panthers and have their former team like the Panthers offer the best in Tkachuk.
And finally their top 1 and 2 picks a decade ago actually turned into elite players, unlike dozens of others selected in the same spots, with Barkov and Ekblad.

All very fortuitous and I'm happy for the Panthers, especially if all the above is what causes McDavid to leave Edmonton without any Cups.

Throw the Maurice hiring in there as well. At the time of hiring he was a career .500 head coach that couldn't get anything done in the playoffs with the Jets over 8 seasons and then flat out quits on the team after a poor start to the 21/22 season making the hire kind of questionable for the Panthers. He goes god mode on Florida and takes them to three straight SCF appearances.

[Sylvanfan]

It's like a fly wheel effect. Took a lot of effort to start getting it to spin. But now these incremental advantages start to add up and make a real difference. They got to draft some good players, they made other moves to add some other ones. They resigned their best guys for slight discounts to keep them. Add it all up, and it's resulted in them being where they are today. Now that they've established this, I think they'll be able to keep adding and keep a pretty competitive team that can win cups for another two years until they likely get a bit too old to win at the highest level similar to Tampa.