With their shocking 12 game winning streak, the Florida Panthers were propelled into the top of the Atlantic Division. Just a month earlier, they were an after thought for even making the playoffs. Now they have a four point lead in the standings, and have All Star Captain Jaromir Jagr leading the offensive charge.
The question really is though, are the Florida Panthers for real? How good are the Panthers really? This article will break down the team into three categories, forwards, defenders and goaltenders, and try to see where their strengths and weaknesses are.
Forwards: 6/10
Jaromir Jagr is for sure the biggest name on the Panthers, but he may not be by the end of the season. The former third overall pick in the draft Jonathan Huberdeau has only one less point than Jagr with 31. He has been on a tear in the last five games, scoring three of his seven goals this season during that five game span.
Aleksander Barkov is another young, talented forward having a breakout season for the Panthers. The former second overall pick out of Finland has 12 goals and 28 points in only 34 games. He also has a positive +/- for the first time in his young career and is now seeing almost 20 minutes of ice time a game.
The Panthers offense, though, is still average. Being the 16th ranked offense in the NHL is not a bad place to be in, but when Florida has to go up against the best defenses in the NHL during the playoffs, the offense will be a big question mark. Players like Jussi Jokinen and Reilly Smith are good players, but they shouldn’t be your fourth or fifth best forward.
Defenders: 8/10
The Florida Panthers have really invested a lot to build a solid blue line unit, and they have seen the rewards this season. Veteran acquisitions Brian Campbell and Willie Mitchell are a great veteran presence on the blue line and are both playing 20 MPG.
The true star on this team is Aaron Ekblad. The former first overall pick has taken the role of top defender. Ekblad leads the team with a 17 +/- and is behind only Campbell in ice time. Since December, the budding young star has nine points and a 14 +/-. The 12 game winning streak ended when he went down due to injury, further showing the impact he has on the team.
Goaltender: 8/10
Roberto Luongo at this point in his career has become a broken record. He looks great before the playoffs start, but normally plays his worst when it matters the most. His 2.18 GAA and 92.7 SV% are impressive, but it is about what he is always averaging at this point in the season. Al Montoya is a super solid back up, and can give the 36 year old Luongo the rest he needs.
Verdict: Lose in the first round
The Panthers have a few young players that could turn into super stars. Aaron Ekblad is already moving up the ranks into the elite defender category.
Aleksander Barkov had 14 points during the Panthers 12 game-winning streak, and is looking like a force to be reckoned with moving forward. However, they just do not have enough offensive firepower to keep up with the top teams in the East. A playoff appearance will give this team the experience they need moving forward.