The goose is cooked for the Florida Panthers.
Props to the
reporter for asking the hard question about Ekblad. We know he hasn’t been the same guy this season, and it was the most obvious to me in the loss to New York. He’s slow and often steps behind attacking forwards. If he tries to hold the line, he’s unable to get back fast enough. Not only that, he seems unable (or unwilling) to battle out front to keep attacking players from disrupting Florida’s blue paint. In fairness, Florida’s defensive corp as a whole is very bad at boxing the opposition out.
I was confused by Maurice’s answer to the question. I’m not trying to make a joke, I’m honestly unsure what he meant regarding the line about players being 100% healthy if they’re in the lineup, but then he eludes to the idea that they can also be playing injured — which we all know. It seemed like a contradicting statement. Given that, I’m guessing Ekblad is not 100% (like we all have assumed).
However, the issues go beyond just Ekblad. Something that has hindered the Panthers for years from taking the next step is their star players being unable to rise up and take over — not only on a regular basis, but at those times when they really need to be the difference makers they’re expected to be.
Barkov has been disappointing thus far into the season. Not only from an on-ice perspective, but from a leadership perspective. I know it’s not his way, but if there was ever a time for a captain to step — and speak up — it’s now.
With 44 games remaining, someone needs to take control from the players perspective. If Maurice is the problem, so be it. It’s time for the players to come together and get it done. It won’t be easy, but someone has to take control and get this team on track.
How strange it is that normally a game against the Coyotes would be a sure bet W, has now turned into a complete coin toss as to who will come out on top.
Per Jameson Olive:
”The Panthers will close out their homestand with a matchup against the Coyotes (13-17-5) on Tuesday at FLA Live Arena.
Finding their footing early in December, the Coyotes have won six of their last 11 games, but enter this week on the heels of a 5-3 loss at Tampa Bay on Saturday. Prior to that loss, they'd beaten the Kings, Avalanche and Maple Leafs by a combined score of 14-7. Clayton Keller leads Arizona in scoring with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists), while Lawson Crouse, a first-round pick of the Panthers in 2015, leads the team in goals with 14. Tightening his grip on the No. 1 job in net, Karel Vejmelka has gone 11-10-4 with a .907 save percentage. In their first meeting this season, Vejmelka made 41 saves to lead the Coyotes to a 3-1 win over the Panthers.
This time around, look for Carter Verhaeghe to get one past Vejmelka if he gets the nod in net. In 37 games in 2022-23, Verhaeghe has scored a team-high 18 goals.”
It seems the Panthers are coming down to two options to get things right:
1. Remove Maurice
2. Shake up the roster
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Let’s just get a win…Go Panthers!
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