Bark-erdeau's return makes Panthers intriguing team to watch before deadline
We're about to learn a lot about the Florida Panthers.
Last year's Atlantic champions aren't going to repeat. They're 22-19-10, four points out of the division's third and final playoff spot, with a few games in hand. They can't score, averaging 2.3 goals per game, 26th in the NHL. Ditto their power play, which ranks 25th.
Help is on the way: Jonathan Huberdeau will make his season debut Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, after Achilles surgery cost him the first half of the season. Aleksander Barkov will be back in the lineup, too, having last played Dec. 28. And he was heating up after a slow start when he went down, with 13 points - including seven goals - in 13 games in the final month of 2016.
No time to settle in
Florida doesn't have luxury to wait for Barkov and Huberdeau to find their legs. While the second wild-card spot is also within Florida's reach, it's third place in the division the Panthers covet. And in order to get there, Florida's going to have to beat some very good competition in February.
After Friday's game, Florida's off until Feb. 9, thanks to its mandated bye week, and then it's off to the races against very stiff competition:
| Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
| Feb. 3 | Ducks |
| Feb. 9 | Kings |
| Feb. 11 | @ Predators |
| Feb. 15 | @ Sharks |
| Feb. 17 | @ Ducks |
| Feb. 18 | @ Kings |
| Feb. 20 | @ Blues |
| Feb. 22 | Oilers |
| Feb. 24 | Flames |
| Feb. 26 | Senators |
| Feb. 28 | Hurricanes |
In other words, the Panthers' immediate and long-term future will be decided in the coming weeks.
On the surface, things aren't good. Florida hasn't improved since Gerard Gallant took over, and that minus-20 goal differential is very difficult to ignore. And should the Panthers struggle on that upcoming five-game road trip against stiff Western Conference opponents between Feb. 11 and Feb. 20, it's a good chance they're sellers at the March 1 trade deadline.
Who could go?
And that could mean Jaromir Jagr's time in Sunrise may be up. While he's enjoyed his time in Florida, the soon-to-be 45-year-old is playing for a chance at a Stanley Cup - and he's on an expiring contract. If the Panthers aren't going to the dance, they must make sure Jagr does.
Jussi Jokinen, signed through next season at $4 million, is another player who could be made available if the Panthers find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoffs come Feb. 21. Florida can chalk up this season as lost due to injury, take the positives - Vincent Trochek's emergence into an All-Star and finding Jonathan Marchessault - and look to 2017-18 with its young core intact.
On defense, Jakub Kindl will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, while Mark Pysyk and Alex Petrovic will be restricted. And every playoff team needs depth defenders.
In other words, the Panthers have some assets they can move, should they decide to sell. With an unfavorable schedule, and no more points to waste, it's do-or-die time for Florida as the calendar inches towards deadline day.
Should be fun to watch.