The Florida Panthers concluded their season with a victory over the Detroit Red Wings, featuring many AHL Checkers players. Eight players are now heading back to Charlotte for upcoming games and the Calder Cup playoffs.
Key points
Florida Panthers won against Detroit Red Wings
Lineup included AHL Checkers players
Eight players heading back to Charlotte
Checkers have games this weekend
Calder Cup playoffs are upcoming
Florida PanthersDetroit Red WingsFlorida CheckersAHL Calder Cup playoffs
Panthers Had a Lot to Like from Florida Checkers Whose Seasons Continue
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
SUNRISE — Less than 12 after the Florida Panthers wrapped up their season by soundly trouncing the Detroit Red Wings with a lineup made up primarily of players from the AHL Checkers and depth acquisitions, eight were at Fort Lauderdale International waiting for a flight back to Charlotte.
The Checkers, after all, have a pair of games this weekend.
Then comes the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs.
Charlotte begins its quest for the Calder Cup on Wednesday night at Bojangles Coliseum.
“A couple of the old guys … felt that they were coaching a group of me who had a unified purpose and goal. That’s really hard to do,’’ Bill Zito said Thursday morning on closeout day at the IcePlex. “Really excited about Charlotte. I’m probably jinxing them. But we had 12-14 of their guys, and they kept winning.’’
Still, it was a little bittersweet in the aftermath of an 8-1 shellacking of the Red Wings to see a number of the young players milling around the home dressing room as equipment staff hurriedly packed up red Panthers bags for the morning flight to North Carolina.
Yet, what a time — one they will never forget.
“It was the cherry on top,’’ Mike Benning said after scoring his first two NHL goals in the win. “Every game is a new learning experience for me, whether it’s from the coaches or the veteran players on the team. Even just watching them, you can take a piece from their game.’’
Some of these players made their NHL debut as the season closed out.
They all gained the confidence that they could play in NHL.
For the final game of the season against Detroit, Florida had 15 regulars out of the lineup with injuries, including all six regular defensemen.
Q&A
What was the outcome of the Florida Panthers' last game?
The Florida Panthers won their last game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Which players are returning to Charlotte after the Panthers' season?
Eight players from the Panthers' lineup, primarily from the AHL Checkers, are returning to Charlotte.
What are the Florida Checkers preparing for after the Panthers' season?
The Florida Checkers are preparing for a pair of games this weekend and the AHL's Calder Cup playoffs.
When do the AHL Calder Cup playoffs start?
The AHL Calder Cup playoffs will begin after the Checkers' upcoming games this weekend.
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Florida’s defense consisted of five Charlotte recalls and Donovan Sebrango, who was headed to the AHL in October before the Panthers claimed him off waivers from Ottawa.
The Panthers ended the season with three straight victories, all against non-playoff teams.
Nevertheless, as a team they should be given credit for maximum effort, without an eye on draft picks or their upcoming vacation.
With several on one-year contracts, the late season performances will increase the likelihood of a raise and in some cases a one-way contract which can have major financial consequences.
The season finale provided plenty of firsts.
Benning, who played the final 18 games of the season, and was on the first defensive pairing against Detroit, registered his first two NHL goals.
Wilmer Skoog, Mikulas Hovorka, and Ludvig Jansson recorded their first NHL points, all assists.
Marek Alscher, who had his first point two games earlier against Toronto, had two assists against Detroit, his fourth NHL game and his first multi-pointer.
Alscher, Jansson and Skoog are on two-way two-year contracts, so they are sure to be in the system next season.
Benning is on a two-way expiring minimum salary contract and will be a restricted free agent. He is sure to get a qualifying offer at a raise and can make a good case for a one-way deal, even though breaking into the lineup when all the defensemen are healthy again will be tough.
He is ready for making another postseason run with the Checkers after they won the Eastern Conference last season before losing to Vancouver’s Abbotsford Canucks in the final.
“We have battled through a long season for this,” Benning said. “I have a strong belief in our group, and I know everyone feels the same.’’
Hovorka, likewise will be an RFA, coming off an expiring two-way contract at somewhat above minimum. He is a little further down the depth chart than Benning but will likely be offered another two-way contract.
Toby Bjornfot is on an expiring two-way one-year minimum salary deal and is a restricted free agent. He has proven himself to be a reliable first-callup defender and there is a good chance he will remain in the system.
Nolan Foote was a winger on multiple lines in his twelve games.
He managed one goal and showed a lot of hustle. At age 26 and with six years pro experience bouncing between the NHL and AHL, his upside potential is limited.
Zito had signed him to a one-year two-way deal for this season. The team has nothing to lose by offering him a similar deal.
Noah Gregor, who came to camp on a tryout and made the Panthers in October, is also back in Charlotte where he played 25 games before his recall.
Like Foote, he’s been around a while and knows what it’s like to fight for a job. He scored four goals in his 37 games, the highlight of which was his franchise-record goal 8 seconds in against Ottawa on April 1.
He will be a UFA after the AHL season ends.
Although the season was an artistic failure on ice, the adversity benefited the “on the bubble” players, showcasing them for the Panther brass and the other teams’ scouts to see.
It was also good for the Florida coaching staff to get to know these players a little bit better, and to see them against NHL competition.
Even in training camp, the young kids practiced apart from the NHL group and really only got into exhibition games loaded with AHL hopefuls like themselves.
“If you stay healthy you don’t get to know these guys,’’ said Paul Maurice, explaining that, while he gets reports on the AHL players during the season, his focus is on the NHL side of things.
“I don’t know what they’re good at. … I know our organization better right now because of the last two months than at any other point. All of those guys on the blue line – we’ve got six guys that really didn’t play in the league last year. You’ve also got a bunch of guys that played in Charlotte.
“I would never get to see them play in an NHL game. Some got to play in some heavy games, too. …
“I do have a better understanding of what they’re good at so we as coaches can interact with them completely differently. There were players I was really very impressed with, at least in their development.”
The core is set for next season, save for a still uncertain goalie situation.
Will Zito go with what he has for depth, or seek other under the radar candidates?