The Florida Panthers may have struggled to hit their stride over the first half of the NHL season, but they're now finding their form at the most opportune time.
Winning six out of the last seven games, Florida finds itself within striking distance of the playoffs in the tightening Eastern Conference wild-card hunt, and in prime position to be buyers ahead of the fast-approaching Feb. 26 trade deadline - for more than one reason.
Of course, sitting seven points back of a postseason seed with half of February already in the books is far from the ideal scenario. But, seven points really isn't that much when you consider the advantages Florida has going for it.
Here's a look at the reasons why the Panthers should be buyers over the next 10 days:
- Games in hand - Always a crucial number on which teams and fans keep a keen eye. Florida has at least three games in hand on the teams ahead of it in the Eastern wild-card race, so the opportunity to gain ground is real.
- Heating up - Since the All-Star break, the Panthers have been on fire. A 6-1 record has resurrected their playoffs hopes to the point where general manager Dale Tallon should be actively working the phones to get his team over the top.
- Clean bill of health - With starting netminder Roberto Luongo returning any day, Florida finds itself without a single player on injured reserve, a huge bonus as the 82-game grind winds down.
- Favorable March schedule - The rest of February won't be easy. But seven March games against non-playoff teams including three against the Ottawa Senators and two against the Montreal Canadiens should set the Panthers up nicely for the spring.
- Plethora of picks - Tallon and Co. have the privilege of owning a pick in every round of the draft for the next three seasons, which includes Arizona's 2018 second-round pick. So, they basically have two first-round selections for the upcoming draft.
- Young core locked down - Vincent Trocheck, Aleksander Barkov, and Jonathan Huberdeau are all secured on team-friendly long-term deals, making a rental addition at the deadline that much easier.
- Available cap space - Never a team to really splurge, the option is there if Tallon feels inclined to make a high-priced rental splash. At least $7 million in currently available cap space should be more than enough room to add the couple pieces the team is looking for.
But what pieces?
Like a lot of bubble teams, the Panthers need to get deeper offensively, as a quick glance at Florida's forward group reveals a lineup that is top-heavy:
(Lines courtesy: DailyFaceoff.com)
A winger like Michael Grabner of the New York Rangers would provide head coach Bob Boughner with the flexibility to spread the club's offensive talent more evenly among his four lines. The Panthers have been following a smart blueprint of drafting high and grooming quality, homegrown players that have formed their core, so sacrificing one of those pieces just doesn't make sense.
But, acquiring a player like Grabner (23 goals, six assists this season) would obviously cost much less than the Max Paciorettys and Mike Hoffmans of the world.
And he would slot nicely into Florida's top nine without giving up a core piece, providing added scoring to a team that struggles to bury the biscuit - the Panthers sit 19th in league scoring with only 156 goals.
If Florida wants to make a serious playoff push, reinforcements will also be needed on the blue line, as the Panthers have become a team against which opposing squads pad their stats.
Boughner's men allow the second-most shots on net per game at a staggering average of 34.7. And the top-three defensive group of Aaron Ekblad, Keith Yandle, and Michael Matheson is currently relied on far too heavily for the team to be successful come April and May - all three players average well over 20 minutes a night.
A defenseman such as Columbus Blue Jackets' Jack Johnson could be the type of player that solidifies Florida as a genuine threat with playoff aspirations.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
He can log heavy minutes, kill penalties, chip in with a timely goal or assist, and take some of the workload away from the top-three guys. But, perhaps most importantly, Johnson's asking price is likely much more affordable than some other high-end blue-line trade targets like Detroit Red Wings D-man Mike Green or Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh.
Despite playing most of the season in John Tortorella's doghouse, Johnson still holds value as a reliable defenseman with over 20 games of postseason experience under his belt.
Florida is far from a Cup favorite. But as it stands, the Panthers find themselves in perfect position to be major players between now and Feb 26.
If Tallon can pull a few strings and augment his stellar young core with the right veteran or two, don't be shocked to see the Panthers competing in the first round.
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