When you think of National Hockey League general managers, you think of a group made up primarily of retired players, with a few scouting standouts and the odd math nerd thrown in for good measure. Having played the game is no doubt valuable with regards to understanding how the business of hockey works, but it’s […]

Not much was expected of the Florida Panthers entering the 2017-18 National Hockey League season. After all, they were coming off an embarrassing 2016-17 campaign, had gotten rid of two of their best scorers at the expansion draft and disposed of a top-four defenseman for some seriously suspect reasons. Up until Jan. 29, the Cats […]

The 2018 National Hockey League Trade Deadline is fast approaching, and speculation is rampant regarding who the buyers are – and what they want – and who will be selling – and what they have on offer. The Florida Panthers are approaching the deadline without much they can really offer other teams, at first glance, […]

As the first-overall pick in the 2014 National Hockey League Draft, there were, and still are, massive expectations heaped upon the shoulders of Aaron Ekblad. The Florida Panthers defenseman has done nothing but perform, quickly establishing himself as the Panthers’ number one rearguard after stepping into the NHL at 18. He’ll no doubt continue to […]

With 24 games to go in the 2017-18 National Hockey League season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are 18 points clear of the Detroit Red Wings, the team closest to knocking them out of the playoff race. So, yeah, we’ll be seeing the Leafs in the postseason come spring. However, despite the sizeable cushion, there are […]

The Florida Panthers are, and pretty much always have been, one of the most colourful teams in the National Hockey League. On the figurative side of things, whether it’s arena shenanigans, overbearing ownership, or general manager Dale Tallon’s twisted revenge plot, the Panthers are never, ever boring. And on the literal side of things, the Cats […]

Yes friends, it’s finally over. As the month of January draws to a close, the National Hockey League bye weeks are over, as well. And good riddance. Not only do bye weeks needlessly compress the season, they produce a brutal product in the games that follow. They also contribute to what is essentially a two-month […]

With three goals in two games, Nazem Kadri appears to have finally busted out of his well-documented slump. Kadri played 21 games between Nov. 29 and Jan. 23, scoring only two goals and three (three!!) total points. Worse, one of those goals (Nov. 30 against the Edmonton Oilers) was an empty-netter and the other (Jan. […]

After the Toronto Maple Leafs blew a 2-0 lead Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, eventually losing 3-2 in overtime, goaltender Frederik Andersen let his team have it. ? “We’ve got to regroup, I think we’ve got to figure out who wants to commit to playing for the team. “I don’t think we’re tired. I […]

The 2017-18 National Hockey League Trade Deadline is six weeks away, and speculation is rampant the Toronto Maple Leafs will be in on the action. With some holes on defense, a number of significant contributors entering free agency and the looming specter of the Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander contracts, the Leafs have […]

The fifth week of the National Hockey League season was another disappointing one for the Florida Panthers, who played 0-2-1 hockey to finish up a five-game homestand. At 4-7-2 through 13 games, they’d better get this thing turned around soon if they want a shot at the playoffs. Florida Panthers’ Week That Was Lightning Shock […]

For the second time in two seasons, the Florida Panthers are not doing the National Hockey League any favours as it seeks to rehabilitate its concussion management image (or, you know, even have an image in the first place). Disclaimer Before I begin, just let me say that neither I, nor anyone else at The […]

The Florida Panthers struggled to gain any traction during the fourth week of the 2017-18 National Hockey League season. Yes, they came away with a record of 1-1-1, which is not at all disastrous. However, they had two real opportunities to take advantage of divisional foes they should probably beat, and only came away with […]

The law of averages states that things eventually even out; the Florida Panthers better hope that happens soon. Despite playing relatively well, the team still came out of the third week of the 2017-18 National Hockey League campaign with a 1-2-0 record, putting them 3-4-0 on the season, good for sixth in the uber-competitive Atlantic. […]

When you see eight-year contracts handed out in the National Hockey League, names like McDavid, Eichel and Price come to mind. If we’re talking Florida Panthers, look no further than Aaron Ekblad, the supremely gifted – and devastatingly handsome – two-way defenseman. In other words, recipients of eight-year deals are franchise players. So, it’s no […]

The second week of the 2017-18 National Hockey League season is in the books, and the Florida Panthers, just like in week one, played seven days worth of .500 hockey. Well, when I say seven days, I mean two games worth, for the Panthers, once again, only played twice. Only the Carolina Hurricanes (three) have […]

The 2017-18 National Hockey League season has begun, and we were treated to a tremendously entertaining season-opening home-and-home between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers badly outplayed the Lightning for most of their two-game set, outshooting them 36-25 and 48-30 (84-55 altogether) in the process. However, the Bolts, being the enormously […]

For people that are supposed to be exceedingly competent businessmen, National Hockey League owners sure do make some fascinating choices. Look no further than Peter Karmanos Jr., majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes. Formerly chief executive officer at Compuware, Karmanos joined the NHL ownership ranks in 1994, as part of the group that purchased the […]