Three-peat? Florida’s Dynasty Run Begins
the Florida Panthers because they finished in first place and we just worked our way downwards, but they finished third this year. But we’re still going to start with them because won the Stanley Cup for consecutives late years, Neil. And we didn’t think we’d see that after seeing Tampa do it in the bubble series where we all suffering through the COVID era. Tampa won it twice in a row and I you weren’t sure you’d see that again because of the parody in the league, but Florida was a deserving two-time champion for sure. So, here we go. The Florida Panthers. And considering that we thought maybe we’d never see Paul Maurice win a Stanley Cup after his long career, he’s going for history and general manager Bill Zitto was certainly giving him the tools to do that because he pulled off the trifecta resigning Sam Bennett as a UFA eight years 8 million AV coming off a consmike trophy winning playoff. Brad Marshon stays on six years 5.25 and he also manages to keep Aaron Ecklad 8 years 6.1 million. He did have to let a few players go. Nate Schmidt signed with Utah. Nico Sturm signed with Minnesota. Vite Vanichek the backup goalender also signed with Utah. But all in all, Zto has positioned Maurice to give this club the best opportunity to make a run again. No, he sure has. And they didn’t lose as many integral pieces this year as they lost last year in the summer of 24. You’re talking about Ecman Larson leaving. Montour left, others left and this year they they really aren’t huge pieces. I really like Nate Schmidt and I think that’s a great signing by Utah. I thought he was really good for Florida. But all in all, Bill Zitto has become a magician. And so for the people who thought that the assistant manager of Columbus, what would he know to go to Florida and be the GM? What did he learn in Columbus, a place that never makes the playoffs and are terrible? How are they going to be any? Bill Zitto is certainly fooled everyone. The ex hockey player agent has done just a remarkable job. Even though Jim Nil has won general manager of the year, the Jim Gregory award, Bill Zto, I don’t know. He I don’t know where he hides his gun cuz he’s robbing things left and right. But him and Paul Maurice make a great tandem. They seem to be like no controversy ever coming out of the Panthers. They seem to be on the same page all the time. And it we’ll see. This is going to be a very interesting year. Personally, I’m going to be pulling for Florida because I’d like to see it. I’d like to see three times. and a couple of other subtle moves in there because we mentioned that Schmid and Vanichek are now off to Utah. But in their places, Daniel Terasoff traded for with Columbus signed as a UFA on July 1st and Jeff Petri comes over from Detroit as a UFA. So, I think as we saw perhaps with Julian Breeze in Tampa before, it’s not so much the top end guys, it’s how you fill your back end in that really determines what kind of run you’re going to be able to make. Absolutely. Because obviously you’ve got to keep the big boys. ZTO did that. He kept all the big boys, but it’s those guys that are going to be on the ice. When your big guys are resting on the bench trying to get their breath back, you can’t have a deficit at that time. You’ve got to have as equal or better than the other club is putting on the ice. So Zitto seems to be able to be masterful at doing this. And you’ve got I haven’t looked it up, Vic, but you I wonder now that you say it. Is Teras off was Zitto there when Terasoff was acquired by Columbus? Does he know Terasoft because of his background in Columbus? Not sure because I don’t have it in front of me, the reference material, but there’s quite often there’s a string to who these general managers pick up. And you would certainly know that, wouldn’t you? A little bit. Yeah. Adam Graves and on. Yeah. So, a couple of other ressigns. Thomas Nok resigned as a UFA with the Panthers for one year at the minimum 775K. and Maggie Samuskevich resigns that happened on July 10th. And reason that’s significant is his day with the Stanley Cup happened recently and he went to Sandy Hook Elementary School earlier in life and he returned there with the Stanley Cup to the memorial site where in 2012 20 students and six teachers and administrators were murdered. and he also brought the cup back to his youth rink. And I wanted to give a shout out for that because that’s just really special to bring the cup back there and give that town something to really celebrate amidst the tragedy that took place 13 years ago. Another little side note to Mackie Samuskevich, do you remember when I went down and visited with Paul Maurice when they were at ABS Arena playing the Islanders before the game? He mentioned to me, he says, “Take a look at Mackie Samuskevich tonight.” He says, “This kid just works as hard. You can’t believe the work ethic this kid has.” And he said that Sam Bennett took him under his wing and the kid is playing really well. And I never forgot that he was so enthusiastic about Samuskevich, but I didn’t know the Sandy Hook piece, but it is heartwarming that he would do that. One other thing heading into the season before we get into the prowling question that I’m going to present to you. Matt Kachchuk now debating whether or not to have surgery. That’s that lingering injury that he has had going back to the Four Nations faceoff. Are you surprised that he’s waited this long? But even if he gets the surgery, you have to figure that the Panthers are going to be able to survive. And if he comes back strong for the second half of the season, then it would have been worth the wait. I’m not really surprised that he’s waited this long because I don’t know what is involved in it. I can only tell you this that I had total knee replacement a number of years ago. And I tried for four or five years before that to to exercise my way out of having that surgery. So I can only imagine that when you’re an NHL player, you don’t want to miss any time. So, you try to work as hard as you can to rehab yourself and not have to get surgery. And then finally, when you can’t get it done, you got to bite the bullet and say, “Okay, I’ll take the surgeries.” I’m sure he tried as hard as he could to avoid surgery, but if he’s got to have it, he’s got to have it. That’s going to lead us into the big question about the Panthers as they look to become the sixth team for a three pete or an official dynasty as it is referred to a minimum of three consecutive Stanley Cup wins. It’s been done before by the 47 through 49 Maple Leafs, the 56- 60 maj Canadians. The Leafs did it again from 62 to 64. Canadians again 76-79. And the New York Islanders from 1980 through 1983. But the last four teams that have had the opportunity for the three, the 93 Penguins, 99 Red Wings, 2018 Penguins, and 2022 Lightning fell up short. So Neil, for you, where is the line in the sand that will determine whether or not the Panthers succeed in making history? I think there’s two things that I look at and that is Babski, who’s obviously one of their elder statesmen on the team. Can he still keep playing the way he’s played at that as his age keeps advancing? Can he still keep as sharp as he’s been? And the second thing is simply health. Can they stay healthy? They hit this year’s playoffs pretty healthy. You remember that’s what we just talked about with Matt Kachuk. He they found a way to keep him out of the lineup until the playoffs started and then all of a sudden he was healthy again. Can the Panthers stay healthy enough to do what they need to do? And I don’t think you can say that you can end anywhere in the regular season and just as long as you’re healthy in the playoffs. I don’t believe that. I think you have to go in feeling it. You don’t have to win every game for the last 10 games of the season, but you have to go in feeling good about yourselves. So that’s my answer. Vic is Babski and can they stay healthy?
The Florida Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions — and now chasing history. In this episode, Neil Smith and Vic Morren break down how GM Bill Zito has kept the core together, added smart depth pieces, and positioned Paul Maurice’s team for a legitimate shot at a third straight Cup.
The hosts discuss offseason moves, key re-signings, and health questions that could impact the Panthers’ pursuit of a dynasty.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:34] – Florida goes for the three-peat
[01:17] – Re-signing Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand & Aaron Ekblad
[02:45] – Depth moves: Tarasoff in, Nate Schmidt & Vanecek out
[03:32] – Why Jeff Petry may be the key under-the-radar addition
[04:15] – Mackie Samoskevich brings the Cup to Sandy Hook Elementary
[06:08] – Matthew Tkachuk’s injury status and potential surgery
[07:12] – Historical look: Can Florida join the NHL’s dynasty elite?
[09:00] – Neil on what it will take: “Bobrovsky and health, that’s the answer.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Bill Zito nailed the offseason, keeping his top players and avoiding major losses
Depth matters: Smart additions like Jeff Petry and Tarasoff could be difference-makers
Matthew Tkachuk’s health will be a key storyline to watch all season
Bobrovsky’s performance and age will factor heavily into a deep playoff run
If Florida can stay healthy and maintain chemistry, they have a real shot at a historic three-peat
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