RatCap: Florida Panthers Cool Off Red Hot Dallas Stars 6-2

After being outplayed and outmatched their previous game in Chicago, the Florida Panthers seemed to play with a chip on their shoulders. The team would also be without first line center Aleksander Barkov due to a wrist injury suffered Thursday night during the Chicago Blackhawks game. To add some more intrigue to the match, Florida coach Gerard Gallant would tab backup goalie Al Montoya as the Panthers starter in net. After a delay of game penalty drawn by Alex Petrovic, the Stars would capitalize on the ensuing power play and score the first goal of the game. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the Panthers and fans watching at home would be in for a long night. However, the Panthers would step up their intensity and score the next four goals of the game. Newly formed first line of Huberdeau, Bjugstad, and Jagr would connect for 2 goals and a total of 6 points in contest. Overall, a very good game played by the Panthers.

Florida Panthers: Practice Sessions 9/31-10/2

The Florida Panthers have been busy preparing to participate in their final preseason game of the 2015-16 season against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at the BB&T Center. Throughout the past week since their last preseason game, the team has been on a team-bonding trip somewhere in Fort Myers, Florida, in addition to holding team practices on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Here is what transpired throughout the last three days during the team’s practices at the Panthers Ice Den.

Reilly Smith Looks To Make Impact With Florida Panthers Next Season

Gone is Jimmy Hayes and here is Reilly Smith.

Quiet throughout most of the offseason, the Florida Panthers traded streaky forward Jimmy Hayes to the Boston Bruins in exchange for speedy forward Reilly Smith. While the Panthers lose a 6’6 hulking, physical forward in Hayes, the team acquired a playmaker and a speedy player in Smith. Retaining his #18 from his days in Boston, Reilly Smith looks to make an impact during his first season in South Florida.

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A Healthy Nick Bjugstad Hopes To Lead The Florida Panthers Back Into The Playoffs

Nick Bjugstad is starting his first year under his new contract and he is being paid as a player regarded as a reliable number one or two center. Considering this contract is in effect for six years, the Panthers organization truly believe they found a gem when they drafted him 19th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. As he enters his third full NHL season, Bjugstad will have to prove that he can continue to be the skilled 6’6″ center that other teams have been worried about since his NHL debut.

Florida Panthers: Reilly Smith Trade Highlights Day 1 of Free Agency

The Florida Panthers remained quiet for most of the day, in which the only free agent signings came as a benefit for the AHL’s Portland Pirates. When everyone was beginning to get ready for Day 2, Panthers GM Dale Tallon dropped a huge bombshell on the Panthers fanbase: RW Jimmy Hayes was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for RW Reilly Smith and Marc Savard’s contract.