It might be under the radar, but something unprecedented is happening with the Florida Panthers.
The silver lining to being one of the most futile organizations in all of sports for over a dozen years is being able to stockpile good, young talent. Unlike his predecessors, GM Dale Tallon has been able to do just that. Last night was a perfect example of his good work.
With the Panthers ravaged by injuries and sickness, Vincent Trocheck and rookie Rocco Grimaldi have been filling in as the team nurses back to health. Both have been excellent and have earned head coach Gerard Gallant's trust in getting consistent ice time.
Last night in Nashville, the Panthers were dominated for most of the game, their last of a 4-game West Coast swing. Down 2-0 with under a minute left in regulation proved to be the perfect time for the youngsters to save the day. Grimaldi scored his first NHL goal with 43 seconds left in the game, and you could tell he wished it was more important to the game since the Panthers were still losing in the waning seconds. Then 12 seconds later blossoming star Nick Bjugstad also beat Pekka Rinne to tie the game up, sending it to overtime. It was only the fourth time since 2006 that a team avoided a regulation loss while trailing by two in the final minute of a game. These are not the ordinary Florida Panthers.
In year's past this would have been just another listless loss on the road. But Gallant has this team believing in itself and they never quit playing hard. They've only played 2 or 3 "bad" periods this season. Their 4-2-5 road record is a breath of fresh air, and not only shows they are ready to play, but they are also tough to play against. Yes their overtime and shootout success need to improve, but they are 7-5-6 overall after starting the season 0-2-1. These are not the ordinary Florida Panthers.
Roberto Luongo has been everything the Panthers hoped he would be after arriving via trade last season. He has points in 10 of his last 12 starts and his 48 save performance last night is all the proof one needs to know he has plenty left in the tank.
When Tallon arrived in 2010 he warned there was a lot of work to do. He knew he inherited a roster of players in their twilight and/or marginally talented. His "blueprint" was on a 5-year timeline. After winning the first division title in franchise history in 2011-12, fans thought they were way ahead of schedule. Tallon cautioned everyone to stay calm as they were still a ways away from where he knew they needed to be. Two disastrous seasons later they are now seemingly back on track.
Perhaps for the first time in franchise history, there is reliable, quality depth in the organization. Losing five starters in the blink of an eye as they did a few weeks ago normally would result in a slump that severely damaged playoff hopes. Not only are the Panthers staying afloat, but they keep winning and earning points. These are not the ordinary Florida Panthers.
Grimaldi was sent back to San Antonio today, much to the dismay of Panther fans. He is truly an exciting player. But the good news is the reason he was sent back down is because the Panthers are very close to being 100% healthy. Sean Bergenheim, Dave Bolland, Brandon Pirri, and Scottie Upshall could all be available to return tomorrow against the Wild. The problem is where do they go with the team playing so well? What a nice problem to have for Gallant who is creating a culture in South Florida that is unique, fun, and a pleasure to watch. Nothing keeps players motivated more than knowing there is someone right behind them waiting to take their spot.
With depth now a luxury, these are not the ordinary Florida Panthers.
Dan Spiegel... Florida Panthers Media