Blue Line Station
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Road to the playoffs tougher with a stronger Atlantic Division

By Steve Paulus

New York Rangers after Game Three of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
New York Rangers after Game Three of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /
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Nov 10, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sam Montembeault (33) reacts after giving up a goal to New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei (76) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sam Montembeault (33) reacts after giving up a goal to New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei (76) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Florida Panthers: Annual pretender

The Panthers are perpetual playoff wannabes, but have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs only twice in 19 years.  Last season, like the Rangers, they made it into the Qualifying Round, but went out meekly to the Islanders in four games.

With one of the top coaches in the NHL in Joel Quenneville, the Panthers will need a rebound season from Sergei Bobrovsky who finished with a 3.23 Goals Against Average and .900 Save Percentage.  He needs to live up to that $10 million contract.

The Panthers haven’t made any big moves, but did get more experience by adding Patric Hornqvist, Alexander Wennberg and Radko Gudas.  The question is whether they have replaced the scoring provided by Mike Hoffman who led the team last season.

New Panthers GM Bill Zito has to believe that his team is a contender as they gave up a lot to get Hornqvist in steady defenseman Mike Matheson and bottom six forward Colton Sceviour.  If Hornqvist still has gas in his tank at the age of 34 he could help the Panthers get into the postseason.  If not, it could be another lost season for the Panthers.

It does look like the Panthers will be one of the teams the Rangers will have to contend with for a wild card spot in the East.

Verdict:  Another disappointing year? Some big years needed.

New faces:  Patric Hornqvist, Radko Gudas, Carter Verhaeghe, Ryan Lomberg, Alexander Wennberg, Vinnie Hinostroza, Markus Nutivaara,  Josh Brown,   Scott Wilson

Re-signed: Philippe Desrosiers, Mason Marchment

Unsigned RFA’s:   Emil Djuse, Sam Montembeault, Aleksi Saarela.

Departed: Evgenii Dadonov , Mark Pysyk, Dryden Hunt , Dominic Toninato, Lucas Wallmark, Cliff Pu, Mike Matheson, Colton Sceviour

Unsigned UFA’s: Brian Boyle, Ryan Haggerty, Erik Haula, Mike Hoffman, Joel Lowry, Paul Thompson, Curtis Valk.

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