10 Thoughts on the Panthers: All-Star Break Edition

My Thoughts on the teams direction in the second half of the season.

Entering the All-Star Break, the Florida Panthers are a force to be reckoned with. They sit at second in the Atlantic Division with a record of 31-14-4 with 66 points and trail the Boston Bruins for first place by five points.

From how the momentum could slow them down to analyzing the next contract of Carter Verhaeghe, here are 10 thoughts on the Florida Panthers.

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1. The Slow of Momentum Could Hurt the Team Coming Back from the Break.

Before the All-Star Break, the Panthers were on a four-game winning streak and tallied points in eight of their last 10 games. But their last game was an overtime win 3-2 against the New York Islanders on Jan. 27. They’re not playing another game until Feb. 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

That is 10 days in between games and momentum is everything in this league. As a matter of fact, a long break between games was a factor in the team dropping the Stanley Cup Final. They need to find a way to overcome the lack of playing time to keep their streak going.

2. Carter Verhaeghe Could be Commanding a Ton With His New Deal.

Since being signed to Florida back in the summer of 2020, Carter Verhaeghe has been a huge piece of the roster. From his goal-scoring ability to his clutch factor in the postseason, he’s blossomed into a key piece to their top six. This season alone, the 28-year-old has 24 goals and 26 assists through 49 games.

In two seasons, his current contract will come to an end. Verhaeghe could be commanding a lump sum of cash. Bill Zito and company must find a way to keep him around, or they’re missing out on one of the most clutch players in Panther history.

3. John Vanbiesbrouck is in Big Trouble

Panthers fans know of the legacy that is John Vanbiesbrouck. The first starting goaltender in Panther history, the brick wall that sent them to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, and a three-time All-Star.

But, he’s now in hot water. In 2003, as a coach for the Soo Greyhounds, he addressed former Chicago Blackhawks defensemen Trevor Daley with a racial slur multiple times. Once accused, he resigned as head coach. He, along with The Hockey Diversity Alliance, has already called for the removal of his banner at GFL Memorial Gardens. Regardless of how long ago it was, he is deservingly suffering some sort of punishment.