Bettman: Panthers aren't candidates for relocation
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made the strongest statement possible regarding the Florida Panthers at Tuesday's Board of Governors meetings:
Bettman: "Nobody should be focusing on the Florida Panthers as a relocation candidate. Period."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) December 9, 2014
The statement comes in the midst of a season wherein the Panthers are averaging only 8,849 fans per game, by far the lowest attendance figures league-wide.
Co-owner Vinnie Viola, however, remains committed to making hockey work in the Sunshine State, and the attendance situation is tied directly to ownership's refusal to paper the house with freebies (see below).
The Panthers sit two points back of an Eastern Conference playoff spot, and a successful season will go a long way toward stabilizing the franchise in Florida.