While we remain optimistic that the season will come back, there is always the possibility that it might not.
Like you guys, I've seen some interesting ideas/theories from people in terms of how to structure the playoffs if the season is revived. The below was a post I saw from a "apparent" NHL concept. Who really knows if it is, but it's fun to look at either way :
Round 1 - Single Elimination
Bottom 14 teams in the league play to reduce field from 31 to 24
BYE: Top 17 teams
DET (31) - FLA (18)
ANA (27) - AZ (22)
OTT (30) - TN (19)
NJ (26) - CHI (23)
SJ (29) - VAN (20)
BUF (25) - MTL (24)
LA (28) - MIN (21)
Round Two: Best-of-Three Series
Bottom 16 teams in the league play to reduce field from 24 to 16
BYE: Top eight teams
TBD - EDM (9)
TBD - DAL (10)
TBD - CAR (11)
TBD - TOR (12)
TBD - CBJ (13)
TBD - NYI (14)
TBD - WIN (15)
CGY (17) - NYR (16)
Round Three: Best-of-5 Series
All 16 remaining teams play to reduce field to 8
TBD - BOS (1)
TBD - STL (2)
TBD - COL (3)
TBD - TBL (4)
TBD - WAS (5)
TBD - PHI (6)
TBD - PIT (7)
TBD - VGK (8)
Quarterfinal: Best-of-7 Series
Remaining 8 teams reseed 1-8
8 v 1
7 v 2
6 v 3
5 v 4
Semifinal: Best-of-7 Series
Remaining 4 teams reseed 1-4
4 v 1
3 v 2
Stanley Cup Final: Best-of-7 Series
Two remaining teams reseed 1-2
2 v 1
What's interesting about this concept is it basically negates the season in a way, because the teams that should have been naturally eliminated, and not had a chance in the playoffs, now have a shot. That's also what makes it kind of exciting in a way. The good teams still benefit from a season of solid play by getting byes to rest up (who knows if that would be an advantage at this point).
What do you do about the Wings, who were I think were already mathematically eliminated? Does that get thrown out so that there's balance in the first round?
Let's say the season is done...
What happens with the Panthers?
Seriously. What moves get made?
According to
Cap Friendly the below players are UFAs for the 2020-21 season:
Mike Hoffman
Evgeni Dadonov
Erik Haula
Brian Boyle
Mark Pysyk
Personally, I'm moving Hoffman and Pysyk. I still think Hoffman nets you some nice return in a trade. Pysyk is just there to me. Floating between defense and forward, I don't really see his fit. Move him and bring up one of the young guns.
I'd like to see Daddy resigned. He works hard and brings a solid game. Haula is someone I'd like to see more of. His sample size was very small since coming over at the deadline. I think there's something there and for the right price, why not keep him around hand have that depth at center?
I'm willing to give Boyle another shot. Not only because I'm a big fan and he played well in a Cats sweater, but there is a lot he brings in terms of toughness, skill and leadership. Sure, he's older and has the lingering injury, but at league minimum, he's a bargain when you weigh in the assets he brings when healthy.
They also list the RFAs:
Dominic Toninato
Alekis Saarela
Lucas Wallmark
Mackenzie Weegar
Josh Brown
Dryden Hunt
Saarela, Weegar (your best defenseman) and Hunt are automatics to me. Despite some growing pains, I still think Brown is that simple game you want on the backend. Why he hasn't gotten more time this year is kind of odd to me.
Toninato kind of fell off to me. I know he replaced Hunt earlier in the season, but in the long run, I think Hunt is the guy. I love his North-South game and when he can figure out how to finish and find the back of the net more often, I think he'll be a nasty lower line threat for this squad.
Wallmark is in the same position as Haula for me, but I think he showed a bit more promise in the small sample size and would be good to keep around.
Then there's the front office, they're a part of this, too...
The fact is that this team did not live up to the hype they had coming into this season. Yes, they're in the playoff hunt, but the lack of consistency for long stretches, lackluster and emotionless play was glaring.
While a lot of that falls on the players themselves and coach's ability to have these guys ready, it's also a reflection on the GM. Did he bring in the right guys? Did he get the right price? Etc., etc., etc...
Tallon takes a beating from fans - as most GMs tend to do. Sometimes it's justified, sometimes not. So far his big gamble (Bob) has not paid off and his lack of addressing a vital area (defense) has been tough to defend.
Are you guys ready to move on from him? The reason I ask is because it's a strange situation right now. Prior to the unexpected hiatus, the Cats seemed to be putting all together. They were playing the way we thought they would be all season. I think if the season continued and they missed out on the playoffs, I would say that would be it for Tallon. But being close to a playoff spot and heating up at the right time (at least it started to look like it), it's hard to know what the front office is thinking.
I'll ask this...would you give him another summer to see what he can do, or would you rather bring someone new in and see what moves that person makes in the summer?
I like Tallon, but a fresh perspective might be nice. I say that because this past TDL left me with some distaste after hearing they didn't want to leverage the future in trades. I understand we'll never know what trade proposals were out there, but if there were opportunities to improve immediately in areas that are desperately needed (namely defense) at the cost of prospects/young players, then I think that was a swing and a miss. To me, the window is open now and moves need to be made in order to strengthen your chances to win now. The Panthers have become the Smaug of the NHL the past few years, hoarding away their prospects and young talent - incapable of parting with it. Clinging to the idea of what might be and falling into the perennial "up-and-coming team". The problem with that is, if you never actually take the next step and become that next team, you're toast. Now you're never-was team. The guys people wonder what went wrong.
Thats a tough spot to be in.
Time will tell...
Stay safe out there and go Panthers!
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»