HINT: Panthers unlikely to trade their 2026 first round pick before the draft

[00:00:01]The Florida Panthers made a trade over the weekend and they gave us a hint that they will actually keep their 2026 first round pick.

[00:00:15]Your Locked On Panthers, your daily podcast on the Florida Panthers, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day.

[00:00:26]and welcome in to this Monday, June 15th edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. We are part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, the nation's number one sports podcasting network and it is your team every day. Thank you for making the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast your first listen of the day. I am Armando Veles and you can follow me on XM Man12.

[00:00:47]Follow the show anywhere you listen to podcasts and on YouTube. And shout out to the everydayers who come back here and get your daily Florida Panthers fix.

[00:00:56]Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The biggest stage in world soccer is here and let there be goals on FanDuel. Visit fan.com to get started now. So Panther fans, grateful to be back here once again on another edition of the show to discuss everything in the world of the Florida Panthers. Today we are going to discuss the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup and what similarities it has to the Florida Panthers and actually some South Florida hockey history that we witnessed wi with the Stanley Cup and we'll get to that in segment number three. We are also going to chat about an interview that Sergey Babski recently did about his workout regimen. But today we are going to start with a trade on with that the Florida Panthers did over the weekend. Uh, and it's not a big blockbuster trade that they made of any kind, but it is a trade that felt necessary for the organization based on what's happened with one player versus what they want to bring in to fill out their depth because they traded forward Oliver Aular uh to the Pittsburgh Penguins in ex in exchange for Emil Peni uh defense left-handed defenseman who was drafted in the third round in the 2023 NHL entry draft. So why is this important for the Florida Panthers in this trade and why why did the Florida Panthers end up trading Oliver Aular? So Aular ended up uh with the Florida Panthers in the first place because uh he was with the group in development camp after they won their first Stanley Cup. I had a chance to cover the Damp in the Baptist Health Iceplex which was that was their first uh Damp to actually be conducted uh there uh as it opened in December of 2023. There was they all the ones recently were done at the uh at the ice den in Coral Springs. So after they win the Stanley Cup, uh Oliver Aoular is part of that group who comes who came in and I remember just talk chatting about it at the time even the days before the scrimmage on aar being that one guy who was really consistently winning his board battles, playing above his size uh and and also was very impactful in in the actual scrimmage and then played in the Charlotte checkers that year. He signed a one-year entry- level deal with the Florida Panthers and was part of that long Calder Cup run for the Checkers before losing in six games to the Avitzford Conucks. With that being a one-year deal and the contract uh expiring, he was there was no other contract after that, but the Florida Panthers still kept his rights there.

[00:03:29]So, he goes he goes overseas and plays there and was also a part of the Slovakian Olympic team. uh and where he had a lot to say about the Kachchuck brothers during their semi-final matchup uh in in in the Olympics which also the Kachchuck brothers were at the White House uh this week for the UFC event that happened there. So plays on the Slovakian Olympic team, plays on the world championship team, plays the entire season there uh in in the SHL in Sweden. So gets 29 points there, 15 goals, 14 assists in the 46 games. And I'm just thinking okay so why usually when players are with an organization and then leave and then go to a club back back home at least on the eastern hemisphere usually that means the relationship between player and franchise usually isn't well there as Oliver Kular which for this franchise and the and the way this group is currently constructed there's a little bit of a log jam of what's going on as far as players available versus how many spots open to be called up and the only reason that u that we're talking about guys like Sandis Vilminis as far as like making an impact for the Florida Panthers come 2026 27 is he was the one who really stood out. Grayson Sachin hasn't made his debut yet. Jack Divine although he fasttracked in his in his first year uh as as a rookie uh is it was shown that he was not ready for for to be on the roster consistently. So needs a little bit of more seasoning in Charlotte at least this year before he comes back and makes an impact. But Sandisville was the guy uh who stuck out uh just um especially this last season and also had more of of uh that development season the year before. But when you when you think about the Panthers and making this trade, this is actually a pretty good gamble for uh Bill Zto because uh because like I said, left-handed defenseman in Emil Pin and hoping I'm pronouncing that correctly.

[00:05:30]uh is another contract that the Florida Panthers are adding to the books and who's actually going to be part of uh this group as he was already in North America the last few years. He was he made his way to North America just a few years ago when he played in the OHL for the Kingston Frontax and then in this last year in the organization for the Pittsburgh Penguin in in Wilsbury and also playing uh with the Wheeling Nailers and being on a long playoff run there right before the Wheeling Nailers uh lost to the Florida Everblades in the Eastern Conference final which by the way the Florida Everb blades will play in game six tonight of the Kelly Cup playoffs for a chance to win their fourth Kelly Cup championship. ship in 5 years by the way. So, uh, Panmy was part of a long playoff run and his profile being at 6'2 can contribute to both parts of the special teams and with the Panthers not being really deep to put it nicely in defense. uh there this this is an additional body that they're putting together here uh so that they could at least see what they got as far as guys who could move in transition close the gaps which that the scatter report for Pin is one that is praises him as far as that and also the fact that he could skate one of the one of the high points of it is that he can skate and also two years left on his deal so the um Pittsburgh's getting the signing right so there's no deal in place for Aquar while the Panthers in the in the contract that they're getting is already signed. Don't have to worry about trying to negotiate anything for an RFA. So that's already that's already a a deal that the that the Panthers are getting into their into their system. And now where it stands, 31 contracts are signed out of 50 going into this off season. So the the Panthers don't have to fill it all the way. So, by the time we get to the end of the offseason, you'll see maybe around like somewhere between 46 and 47 total contracts uh signed between the NHL and the AHL and ECHL even. Uh but the Panthers are uh maybe a little sneaky business there for for the Panthers and um they don't have to go back to this next off season uh for Penny and and for him. Uh but also the Panthers did give us a big hint over the weekend on that it's most likely going to be that they are actually going to keep this pick and there hasn't been really any noise regarding uh trades of some sorts uh when it comes to before the draft. Maybe the action will actually happen during the draft. Uh as it's unlikely that first round picks are getting um the they're trading out because the development to uh to their junior team or NCAA team and then getting to the organization and then the amount of seasoning that these guys need, you know, it takes a little bit of time. And these guys um these uh players that they're that are going to be drafted in the first round and even later the draft entirely are projects.

[00:08:32]So you don't want to be that one general manager who who doesn't want to who is too impatient to want to see something happen and just okay you want to put quick fixes in your franchise right now.

[00:08:45]So you don't want to be that general manager who trades a pick and then it ends up they end up flourishing on another organization. though because the Panthers announced that they are going to be having an actual draft party at the Baptist Health South Icelex in Fort Lauderdale. That tells me that the Panthers are going to keep the pick because I and listen, anything can happen from now until next Friday, which um which just over a week and a half away from the actual draft, the the the Panthers are are likely going to be making the pick and and do and doing something about it. Maybe adding to the defense prospect pool. They're already adding pin in the Emmy and then adding someone else to it. Although maybe that player might not be in the AHL immediately. Maybe they'll be as soon as next year, but this gives all indications say that the Panthers are going to go into the route of keeping the pick. Um it just hints here and there and trying to read between the tea leaves. As far as the event itself that is going to be happening at in Fort Lauderdale, there'll be a panel moderated by uh Steve Goldstein. The events will start at 5 around the facility and then fans can start public skating uh and watching on the big screen starting at 7 o'clock. So, just like what they've done in past watch parties there, this time it's going to be for the draft. So, it's an exciting time because the Panthers had not actually made a first round pick since the 2021 draft when they drafted Matthew Seuskevich and the venue had not opened yet. So, putting uh this all together for uh one night, which because the next two years, the the first round picks that they've traded are unprotected, uh the Panthers are taking advantage of this opportunity to get the fan base back together for the energy to just still be uh and the buzz around this uh group and and hopefully the ne the next big player for the Florida Panthers to add to their contention window uh there.

[00:10:44]So maybe that's uh maybe that's another reason why the the Panthers are going through with it because of the upside of uh of the return on possible return on investment of the pick and also uh getting uh the the fans together for this kind of event uh in in Broward County. But we're going to transition over to segment number two where we are going to discuss Sergey Babski and his actual workout regimen. We actually got more details on what he actually does and where where does that stand as far as my confidence in what the front office is going to do in the goalending department? We're going to discuss that next here on the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast.

[00:11:29]Today's episode is brought to you by ODO. And running a business shouldn't feel like you're trying to connect a bunch of systems that you were never designed to work together. One app for accounting, another for inventory, another one for sales. And somehow none of them talk to each other. That's where ODO comes in. ODO is an all-in-one business management software that brings every part of your business together in one powerful platform from sales to accounting to every inventory and marketing. Everything works all in one place, helping your team move faster, stay organized and focused, growing the business instead of managing software.

[00:12:04]The best organizations know that success isn't just about talent. It's about having everyone working towards the same goal. And that's true in sports just like it is in business. And maybe the Florida Panthers are a franchise who use odo whenever it comes to calculating risk whenever it comes to [snorts] certain trades with maybe possibly Gustaf Orsling uh getting claims off of waiverss and saying, "Hey, maybe this was one calculated risk or maybe some trades that they've done in the past."

[00:12:32]So a very useful tool uh there. So great organizations win because operations matter and that's why you should get ordo. Try free today at odo.com/lockedon.

[00:12:43]That's odo.com/lockedon.

[00:12:48]Also today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. And the biggest stage in world soccer is here and every match feels like has the potential for a memorable moment. One goal can completely change the energy of a game, shift momentum and alter the outcome in an instant. That's what makes tournament soccer so exciting. From the opening whistle to the final kick. Now FanDo is giving fans another reason to stay locked into every match with every goal play pays. Bet on match and get bonus bets for every goal scored in that match. More goals mean more bonus bets.

[00:13:20]All you have to do is turn turn over your token. And from the opening whistle to the final kick, let there be goals on FanDuel. So, if you want to check out USA's next game at 3 p.m. on Friday against Australia, uh, FanDuel is the perfect place to go to to bet on all that and also for the USA to with three points can clinch their ticket to the round of 32. So, visit fando.com to get started. Now, segment number two here on this Monday, June 15th edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. Thank you once again for making Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast your first listen of the day and a little on this day in Florida Panthers history. Although we don't record on Sundays, uh we there is a memorable moment for the Florida Panthers as far as historic uh milestones which on June 14th, 1993, the Florida Panthers unveiled their uniform combination and logo uh for the original Leaving Panther.

[00:14:32]You guys have seen as we posted on the show uh more than a few times that Wayne Heisinga dropping the puck for uh the two uniforms at home and away with the Leaping Panthers and they had the claw gloves at the time but they never act they never uh continued that on uh for the Panthers. Would be cool to have that and also it would be cool in uh 20 to 26 to have those uh claw gloves uh there.

[00:14:55]So another day in Florida Panthers history uh covered here on the show. So [snorts] obviously goalender is goalending is the biggest question for the Florida Panthers into this off seasonason on what they're going to do whether it's the trade for Connor Halabuk with a whole bunch of term left on his deal.

[00:15:11]there's still uh we a lot of us still have a lot of belief in Sergey Babski and there's a portion of this fan base who actually does not have the belief in Sergey Babroski b um based on what had happened in the last season which uh last year was just a series of unfortunate events for the Panthers uh as far as their injuries with the blue line with Demetri Kulakov going down in game number two, Seth Jones in the Winter Classic and then towards the end Aaron Ebladen with the broken finger against the Ottawa Senators and then uh just uh it was uh for this Florida Panthers uh and the goalending just couldn't save the Panthers uh for no pun intended as far as their issues that they were already having. And let's not also forget the best defensive player in the NHL with Alex Barkoff and just what he does and the ripple effect of his presence for the Panthers.

[00:16:04]But there was an interview that Sergey Babski did recently uh in Russian uh and he discussed a little bit about his what he does every single day as far as his workouts and how and not only that but how long he works out for and to keep himself in shape. So Bill Zto has spoken about it. Uh Sergey Babski spoke about how much he worked.

[00:16:29]We've spoken about it, but we've never really had official details on how much time he actually spends on getting his body right for the season and even during the season. So, I'm going to play you guys a clip. Uh, but it there's no good there's not going to be any audio on it. So, I'm going to read it for you guys. There's subtitles because the original interview was in Russian. So, that's why you have the subtitles uh there. So, I'm going to read you guys word for word here from the interviewer to the interviewe. Uh, so the person is saying, "You train twice a day?" He's like, "Three times." She's like, "Excuse me?" He's like, "Three times?" Yeah. I get up at 5:30 a.m., work out for an hour and a half, then breakfast, practice for 3 to three and a half hours, rest, lunch, rest, and then another goalie um practice for 2 to 2.5 hours. And you ask, you're fine with it?

[00:17:18]Yes, I'm fine with it. I keep saying it's very important time for me for building my physical foundation for the season. And if there's any weaknesses and there's any time to work and this is the time to work on those details, those physical skills to make myself stronger and better. So that's awesome. And doing it at in his late 30s and the chip on his shoulder that Sergey Babski consistently had from the time he was undrafted to his time with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Flyers letting him go. Let's not forget he was between the pipes during the last uh game that the Buffalo Sabres had uh in the playoffs right before their long playoff drought. He was the goalender for the Flyers in that he was he was on the opposite side of the Sabres uh there and goes from Philly to Columbus and and then and then Florida. He wins to the VZNA trophies. A lot of people are thinking, was this signing for the Florida Panthers and Sergey Babski uh one that we should doubt?

[00:18:20]And obviously, we touched on it so many times about how it didn't look promising at first and then really started to click in the 2022 playoffs when the P when Sergey Babsky was the least of the Panthers issues. And that really comes down to excuse me, all all the work that he did and continues to do. And we, it's funny because even in a season like this, uh, and with goalending so voodoo, there's still that little bit of unknown whether the whether Sergey Babsky is going to continue up to par. But we all know one thing is that he just wants to continue playing hockey for so many years. And for the Panthers, um, obviously they know this, so this isn't breaking news. they're not going to be like, "Oh my god, he works out this much." This is something that they are aware of. But but for us uh the the fans and the media when it comes to just knowing how much time it is and how much time is just focused on the craft and he's on and we already know that he's on track to be a a Hall of Famer. uh when when he does have his three years of uh being away from the game and h and his eligibility uh actually starts. Uh we know that it's going to be a result of those long hours that he spent in the gym and also keeping his body right because he even said that he loses 15 pounds throughout an entirety of the game because of all the water that he is losing with the sweat with the pads and everything. And you see him take off the gear and he's looking like a twig. But the amount of carbs and protein that he's putting into his body to get him into a point where he's still going to be physically strong enough to uh to get through a game.

[00:20:07]That's also very admirable as well and just goes to show how much uh hard work it the goalending uh position is to to play at the highest of levels. So, for me, I'm I'm just looking at this and I'm just thinking the Panthers, it's not that they can't go wrong in this situation. They certainly could. Uh, but it just gives uh it just gives me a little bit of confidence knowing that the Panthers with the various options that they have at their disposal because I do believe that they do have a few options uh based on what they could possibly do as far as resigning Sergey Babski to hopefully two-year deal or maybe make uh continue to call Kevin Chevoff in Winnipeg for Connor Halabuk to see what what it will take to get the services of him. And again, we don't know whether it's an actual trade request. It's more like he'll be okay with being traded, but it's it would be bigger news if uh there'll be a lot more noise from national writers if it was actually a request. Um and then we know that in St. Lewis that Joe Hoffer is going to be the guy to replace Jordan Biddington for most of the starts. But Jordan Biddington, the problem with that is when you're left on the deal and you got to negotiate a contract and with him being younger, you're going to um and because he won so early, that resume for uh Jordan Bennington and the play has dropped off for a long time. I'd be I he'd be a fit culture-wise for the Florida Panthers. A lot of people disagree, but I think he'd be a good fit because of look what happened in in playing two uh consecutive tournaments for team Canada when he has uh blue liners who have who are actually playing in a structured uh system in their club teams and St. Louis's blue line has been in shambles for multiple years. So, but the thing is the extension part of it and what it could look like on the tail end of that. But uh Jordan Bennington, if they signed him and to an extension, he'll be past the contention window. And that's where the latter part would be the tough part. But the Florida Panthers have made uh extensions uh knowing that the tail end of it isn't going to likely look great. Like Sam Bennett most recently in the offseason, Nico Miga, that contract, I I love it for the first few years, but I don't think I'm going to love it in the last few. So, the the Panthers could certainly do that with someone like Jordan Bennington, but uh they they know that they know that they have a few uh options at their disposal there, but they could also maybe try to trade for goalending prospect Sebastian Koza, who's still young and his uh Red Wings days are likely going to be over.

[00:22:49]And there, if there's one goalender I would not touch this off season, it's Aiden Hill. uh came into the into the middle of the playoff run in 2023 to begin with and it was more of the system around him than it was Aiden Hill and he struggled the last few years where uh John Tordella even said that uh even not necessarily anything of Hill but he backed Carter Hart even though Carter Hart was not performing well in the Stanley Cup final so refused to go to Hill and it looks like that the entire organization of the Vegas Golden Knights just flat out lost confidence in him. He had an injury riddled season and didn't even make the Olympic team for uh Canada this time around. So that would be one that I'd be very very hesitant on. And UC Sorrows would be a dream uh but uh for the Florida Panthers as well as a smaller but more athletic goal center but we don't know which direction that the Nashville Predators are going to go.

[00:23:41]So, uh, the Panthers, maybe they'll likely make a call to Nashville there, but we just don't know how quick the the pulling of the plug and how scorched earth rebuild the Nashville Predators could be with Chris McFarland now at the helm there. But we're going to transition over to segment number three where the Carolina Hurricanes are the new champions of the NHL. it it the torch has been passed. But what similarities do the Carolina Hurricanes this year have to the LA to the Florida Panthers and their cup wins? We'll discuss that next here on the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast.

[00:24:21]Today's episode is brought to you by Five Hour Energy. And if you got a sweet tooth like I do, you know that it's tough to find that perfect treat without all the sugar. That's why Fruity Rainbow 5-Hour Energy Shot brings that nostalgic flavor back in a whole new way. Fruity Rainbow 5-Hour Energy Shots treats your taste buds like an explosion of fruity flavor with tasty caffeine. It It's a quick, easy way to satisfy that sweet craving while keeping things simple and on the go. And it's a zero sugar treat that's treat. That's sweet. Tooth approved. I like how convenient it is, too. It's just a small portable shot I can grab whenever I need a little pickme up. It's become my go-to when I want something sweet without going overboard.

[00:25:06]Get candy flavored chaos with fruity fl um rainbow 5-hour energy shots available online at 5hour energy.com or on Amazon.

[00:25:22]Segment three here on this Monday, June 15th edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. Thank you once again for making the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast your first listen of the day.

[00:25:31]And we're officially in the off season with the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup by final score of three nothing on Sunday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Saved their best defensive performance for last to clinch on the road. Uh and it's funny because this stretch of sports has been outstanding with the NBA Finals and the New York Knicks and doing it in dominant fashion. Although I am a Heat fan and never want to see rivals win, but give credit where credit is due. Uh, but the best thing I also saw this weekend was the RBC Canadian Open, which uh the one PGA Tour event that happens in Canada, Windham Clark, US Open champion, goes to the 16th hole. you guys, for those of you guys who don't know, watch golf. The 16th hole at the RBC Canadian Open is a little hockey rink, the T- box, and they have boards on the sides, and Windham Clark walks to the T- box and puts on a Jack Hughes jersey and hits his T-shot with the with the jersey on and all on the par three and gets birdie with that USA uh sweater on. And then the very next day, he doesn't wear the wear it, but he gets booed as he's walking uh there. So, that was one of the coolest parts, even though there's been so many different highlights uh of sports that went on this weekend with USA uh winning their first uh group stage game in the World Cup and so many different uh moments that we've seen over the weekend. Uh, but not only did the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, there was also some South Florida history that happened with the Stanley Cup win because Penrook Pines native Shane Gosaspare became the first he's going to become the first South Floridaian to have his name on the Stanley Cup and he'll be the second Fidian ever to have their name on the Stanley Cup. The first one was Dan Hinote who born in Leburg, Florida, Sumpter County, just northwest of Orlando. He won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001. But there's two other uh guys who who won the Stanley Cup, but don't have their names who were born in Florida. Jason Magna won it with the Colorado Avalanche. He was he was in the organization. and then Jacob Magna uh both born in in Broward County, but Jacob Magna did not play in the playoffs during the 2025 run for the Florida Panthers. So Shane Gossphere will have the be the first person from South Florida to have their name on the cup. Man, the power play has been in the league for a long time with Philadelphia, Carolina, Detroit, and then back with Carolina the last two years. and now he gets that opportunity to have his name. Maybe his uh day with the cup will be in South Florida. So, that's going to be pretty awesome to see. But a whole dominant playoff run for the Canes who only lost three games.

[00:28:29]The the second least losses that a Stanley Cup champion has ever had.

[00:28:34][snorts] By the way, six of the last nine Stanley Cup champions have come from formerly the Southeast Division.

[00:28:45]Twice by Tampa Bay, twice by Florida, once by Washington, and now once by the Carolina Hurricanes. The only one to have not done that is [clears throat] uh the Winnipeg Jets, formerly the Atlanta Thrashers uh there. But the Carolina Hurricanes, they all that's also a state with state income tax. So where's that narrative on teams with no state income tax and their advantages? The Vegas Golden Knights, yeah, they were the semi-final. They were the finalist runner up and they didn't win. Obviously, the William Carlson injury was too much to overcome for any chance of them to come back. He we've seen how valuable he was when he was reinserted back in the second round against the Anaheim Ducks, but you're looking at not only a team a a team that's from a state with no with actual state income tax, but they manage their books so well that they can run it back next year. The only big decision that they have to make is for an RFA in Alexander Nikeshan.

[00:29:52]everyone else is going to be under contract. And the amount of guys that just like the Florida Panthers that they it was it kind of had like a misfits mentality there as well because Taylor Hall had been through seven teams before making it to the Carolina Hurricanes.

[00:30:09]Part of that Miko Ransin trade and he was the number one overall pick from the Edmonson Oilers uh in in the beginning of their rebuild back in the early 20110s.

[00:30:20]Logan Stanovven was also a secondary trade involved in Rick Miko Rantin and shifted to Dallas. The Stars owner did not want to give Logan Stanovven up in the trade but ended up doing so. Logan Stanovven is a second round pick, small guy and he's playing second line center and driving play well. Keandre Miller traded from the New York Rangers.

[00:30:46]Jackson Blake and Jacob Slavven. Those guys are fourth round picks, which by the way, uh, Jacob Slavven is the second American to win a gold medal and the Stanley Cup in the same year. Last time it happened was 1980 for the New York Islanders and Team USA, the Miracle on Ice team. Ken Marl, Sebastian Aaho didn't really stand out points-wise, but he still man the line either way. He's a second round pick. Shawn Walker, Jaylen Chatfield were undrafted.

[00:31:18]Freddy Anderson was actually drafted twice. First time was to fight the Carolina Hurricanes and then he re-entered the draft. I mentioned their books. $4 million next year is dedicated to their goalending. Freddy Anderson is a free agent, by the way. And he it was said after the Stanley Cup final that he had he he was dealing with a knee injury that he actually happened in game two, but he tried to play through it in game three. So now we know, but that $4 million dedic um price tag between Brandon Busy and Pure Kachchov that they have dedicated next season. That is kind of like a rookie quarterback salary on an NFL team and you have enough resources to build around them.

[00:32:05]So, the Panthers got to look to that and say, "How can we you um build something similarly to that?" Although they've won the championship, they've did it backto-back years, three straight cup final wins, but they're not going to go back to that price tag that they went to Sergey Broski again in in 2026, 27, and beyond that. So they they they have a chance to do to still build around their their goalending which Carolina's blue line was outstanding throughout the entire tournament which 2.05 goals against in the Panthers 2020 uh 4 and 2025 playoff runs.

[00:32:49]The uh it was 2.5 and 2.4 four respectively, which that eightgoal game, which by the way, that was on June 15th, 2024 in Edmonton uh three um two years ago to this day, that skewed the number. Even if you take out half the goals, that doesn't get it down to 2.0.

[00:33:10]TW uh 24 games that the Panthers played in 24, 23 games that they played in 2025, Carolina only played 19. But you could argue there is an argument for the quality of goalending that they faced for their opposition which look at 2024 for the Panthers. Andre Vasileleski, Jeremy Swayman, Igor Sister Sturken on their way to the final.

[00:33:36]And although Lenus Almark was the least of the Ottawa Senators' issue, they couldn't score on the power play. And that Senators team hadn't been proven.

[00:33:47]the Philadelphia Flyers. That was a young team just finally getting through to the playoffs. And that was actually the real one versus eight because the Flyers were actually the last seed in the regular one through eight. And then Montreal, the possession metrics were just way in the Kane's favor. And that, like I mentioned a few weeks ago, that was shades of the 2024 Eastern Conference final between the Panthers and the Rangers.

[00:34:12]But Carolina's going to run it back.

[00:34:16]Panthers attempted to run it back this year. The only subtraction for the Panthers going into this past year was Nate Schmidt and unfortunately Nok gets hurt in the offseason. We knew that they were going to be without Kachchuck. Alexander Barkoff goes out. But you just wonder at at some point because every single time the Florida Panthers have made the Stanley Cup final, which which is now four times, they've had a game seven at least once. Every single time. And I just wonder what would happen if the Florida Panthers actually had more of those quick series like the Carolina Hurricanes did this year, especially because we saw what this season did for for the Panthers and that their bodies just continued to say no.

[00:35:11]The Panthers, this is their chance to reinvent themselves and to get back to in their opportunity to get back to the mountaintop. And when if slash when hopefully they get to the to the playoffs and that's that is number one goal get to the playoffs and they didn't guarantee anything else after that.

[00:35:33]That's what Matthew Kuck said just get there. Which, by the way, I looked up the FanDuel odds for TW the 2026 27 Stanley Cup and the Panthers have the fifth best odds at plus 1,200 to win the Stanley Cup uh in 2026 27. The teams that are in front of them are the Minnesota Wild, the Edmonson Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, and Carolina Hurricanes. Obviously, those will change as the offseason goes based on what happens in free agency and trades because this is going to be the summer of trades. And so, we'll we'll see what what happens there. But the two teams, they [snorts] pressure for the Carolina penalty kill um power play was at 17% in in the 2024 playoffs for the Panthers. it was at 18%. The penalty kill for Carolina was at 91%. The 2024 one for Panthers was 88%. So, the formula was there, but also the whole losing in order to learn to win was also something that was evident.

[00:36:48]The Panthers had to learn that from the Lightning. The Carolina Hurricanes learned that from the Florida Panthers.

[00:36:54]and you and I just hope that these two teams meet again. I just hope I'm not going to take away from their championship. They certainly earned it.

[00:37:06]So, we just we just hope that this uh group meets again. The celebrations were awesome and I love that Elite Prospects, just like they did with the Florida Panthers the last few years, every single name that you look up on that roster, it's a picture of them hoisting the Stanley Cup. They uh unfortunately those change for the Panthers now uh on on that website but as right now the Carolina Hurricanes every single name that you see Jordan Stall uh Chain Gossar all all them guys over there you'll see a picture with them on the cup if you look them up on Elite Prospects. So no days with the Cubs for Panthers, no uh no parade. Uh but you you just hope that the that the Panthers and looking at this they have an opportunity to just get inspired and motivated and just to get back next year because we saw how hungry they were the second time being the hunted and now the Panthers are once again the Hunters. So congrats to the Carolina Hurricanes uh on on winning the Stanley Cup. And uh I I just wonder uh that if these two teams are once again going to be on a collision course again uh to meet in the Eastern Conference final. If they are meeting in the first round, I'd be very shocked. Uh but also credit to the front office. Uh very uh pro um progressive thinking as well, analytics based. So that um and the Panthers lost a big an um analytics darling in Sunny Meadow this offseason. So again, they're going to have to look for new ways on getting guys who are were doubted in one place and bring him into the situation for the Florida Panthers in order to buy in. Uh and thankfully the bodies are are there and contracts thankfully in hockey are long uh so that you don't get guys turned over so quickly as we've seen in other sports. So, uh, so yeah, uh, that that's all I [snorts] got to say about the the Carolina Hurricanes on their Stanley Cup championship win. So, hats off to them. Uh, and hopefully it's the Florida Panthers uh, being uh, named champions for the third time in four years. But that's going to do it for today's show. Thank you guys as always for listening uh, to the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. Tomorrow's show, we're going to have a little bit of a surprise networkwide uh for for this uh for this show. So, we are going to have a very special edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. Thank you guys as always for listening. And in the meantime, if you like what you're hearing, please subscribe to the podcast, be notified every single time the Locked On Florida Panthers podcast jumps into your podcast feed. Don't forget to also subscribe to the other shows on locked on network including locked on locked on fantasy hockey flip living stone and steel roden and locked on a prospects. Thank you once again for making the locked on Florida Panthers podcast your first listen of the day. Sarama signing off and you've been listening to Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast bar lockdown podcast network where it's your team every Okay.