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Knocking Off The Rust

September 13, 2024, 1:22 AM ET [7 Comments]
Matt Ross
Florida Panthers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It’s not a popular opinion, but I’m not a summer person. Long days and nights of heat and humidity?

Yuck. You can keep it.

But summer provides a useful break for the hockey world. It allows players to heal up, and the few months away from the game only helps build up excitement for us fans as the new season approaches.

So, while summer clings to its final days, I’m starting to emerge from my air conditioned cocoon, where I’m eagerly awaiting the cool Fall temperatures…and hockey!

It was a particularly nice break these past couple months. What else was there to do except we sit back and reflect on our Stanley Cup champion Panthers’ season.

But you can’t live in the rearview mirror.

The 2023-2024 season was the best in Panthers history. The reality now is that there is a big ol’ target on Florida’s back for the 2024-2025 season.

Everyone wants to measure up to and take a crack at the champ.

Florida will be going into the new season with the Arnold mentality:



Before we can get to that opening night puck drop, there’s a couple items we need to get through…

The first domino to start the Panthers new season is the rookie showcase taking place this weekend (9/13 -9/16) in Nashville, TN, where the Panthers’ up-and-comers will faceoff against the Preds young guns.

Florida participants are listed below:


Forwards

Jamie Armstrong

Liam Arnsby

Josh Davies

Riese Gaber

Riley Hughes

Kenta Isogai

Krzysztof Macias

Ryan McAllister

Marcus Nguyen

Jay O’Brien

Oliver Okuliar

Gracyn Sawchyn

Kai Schwindt

Wilmer Skoog

Hunter St. Martin

Ben Steeves

Sandis Vilmanis

Nicholas Zabaneh

Defensemen

Marek Alscher

Andre Anania

Michael Benning

Maxim Dirracolo

Mikulas Hovorka

Evan Nause

Keaton Pehrson

Goaltenders

Cooper Black

Mack Guzda

Lukas Matecha

Jan Spunar

The big cats will the. step in late September to kickoff training camp. This is what we’re all looking forward to. After losing some pieces due to the Cup win, it will be interesting to see how some of the new faces fit in to this line up.

More on that in a future blog as we get closer to camp…

Feels good to shake off the keyboard cobwebs as I/we prepare for the upcoming season and regular blog postings!

Until then, just admire this beauty Panthers steez, courtesy of Marty Reasoner!



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Go Panthers!
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» 2024-25 Training Camp Roster