Record: 20-20-8, 48 pts Conference Rank: 12th Division Rank: 3rd Top Scorer: Nathan Horton (16 goals, 29 assists, 45 points) Top Goalie: Tomas Vokoun (15 wins, 2.57 GAA) Midseason Grade: C
The Panthers are the only .500 team in the league right now, and that’s a perfect description of the way their season has gone so far. They’re not really terrible in any department, they have decent goaltending and defense, but they just don’t seem to have what it takes to take it to that next level.
For some time, Stephen Weiss and Nathan Horton have been touted as the offensive future of this organization, and for the first time, this year, they have lived up to those expectations. Horton has 16 goals and is on pace for an 80 point season, while Weiss is on pace for his first 30 goal season. There’s some other decent weapons on the Panthers, and they are actually ranked 5th in the Eastern Conference offensively.
On the back end, Tomas Vokoun has been the Panthers’ only real option, as Scott Clemmensen is a mediocre 5-5 in his 10 starts this season. Vokoun is a solid netminder, but he’s not the type that can consistently be counted on to singlehandedly win games. Florida’s D men have a tendency of being able to pitch in offensively, as all but one of the regular starters have at least 10 points. Unfortunately, this can leave them susceptible to trouble in their own end, as the Panthers’ 23rd ranked defense indicates.
Florida will need to play better than .500 if they wish to make the playoffs, and they do have the capacity to do so. Playing in the weak Southeast Division may give them a bit of an edge over some of the other playoff hopeful teams that have to make up ground within their division as well.