For the third consecutive year, the Florida Panthers have reached the Stanley Cup Final, positioning Sunrise as the epicenter of the hockey world. While some observers have raised concerns about the team`s perceived advantages or the absence of a major traditional US hockey market in the final series, the Panthers` impressive success, both on the ice and in developing their franchise, is ultimately beneficial for the sport`s long-term health and expansion.
Over a span of roughly 23 years, from 1997 to 2020, the Panthers largely languished in the middle to lower ranks of the NHL standings. To be more direct, they were often an overlooked and unremarkable franchise in a region where hockey was a minor attraction rather than a primary focus.
This situation has dramatically changed in recent years. Under the guidance of general manager Bill Zito, the Panthers have built a consistent contender that is now on the verge of potentially securing its second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Fan attendance has significantly improved, and broader community support for the team and the sport of hockey overall has seen a remarkable surge.
Contrary to certain online narratives, the Panthers` achievements are not solely due to tax benefits or favorable weather. Florida`s management has consistently made excellent decisions in building the roster, and they have also invested considerable effort into establishing hockey roots within the local community for future generations.
The notion of a “Sun Belt problem,” often mentioned perhaps somewhat jokingly, is largely unfounded. The Panthers represent a significant success story for both the league and the sport, and this success is a result of strategic decisions, not just tax codes.
Smart and Proactive Roster Construction
It`s difficult to find significant weaknesses in the current Panthers roster, largely because the team has excelled in multiple areas. Florida has successfully drafted top talent, identified valuable lesser-known players, and acted decisively when elite players became available via trade.
Succeeding with first-round draft picks might sound simple, but teams frequently miss on these selections. While the Panthers aren`t immune to misses, three crucial members of the current team were high-impact selections made at or near the top of their respective drafts:
- Aleksander Barkov (2nd overall in 2013)
- Aaron Ekblad (1st overall in 2014)
- Anton Lundell (12th overall in 2020)
Barkov serves as the team`s indispensable leader and recently earned his third Selke Trophy. Ekblad is a key component of the Panthers` formidable defense. Lundell is among the league`s top third-line centers and would likely play a more prominent role on most other NHL squads.
While this core trio is essential to Florida`s success, the team has truly distinguished itself by acquiring undervalued players from across the league. If other franchises wish to complain about the Panthers` supposed tax advantages in Florida, perhaps they should first stop providing the team with such valuable impact players at a low cost.
Carter Verhaeghe, who led the Panthers in goals during the previous postseason, was signed to a two-year, $2 million contract in 2020 after being released as a restricted free agent by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Was there a long line of teams eager to offer Gustav Forsling, now recognized as one of the NHL`s premier shutdown defensemen, a contract reflecting his true market value before the Panthers secured him, potentially leveraging their lack of state income tax? No, there wasn`t. Florida claimed Forsling off waivers before the 2020-21 season.
Eetu Luostarinen, a key player on Florida`s effective third line, was part of the return package in the Vincent Trocheck trade back in 2020. Before that deal, Luostarinen had only played eight NHL games, recording a single assist.
Even Sam Bennett, who is expected to sign a significant contract this summer, was acquired in exchange for a second-round pick and the rights to Emil Heineman. This was a relatively modest price for a player who has become absolutely crucial to the Panthers` setup.
These players were initially obtained for considerably less than their eventual value, but even when General Manager Zito pursued major acquisitions, the price paid has proven worthwhile. Two trades that fundamentally altered the trajectory of the Panthers organization were the additions of Sam Reinhart in 2021 and Matthew Tkachuk in 2022.
Reinhart`s acquisition cost a first-round pick and goaltending prospect Devon Levi. While decent compensation for the Buffalo Sabres at the time, they likely regret that trade now. Since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, only one player, Auston Matthews, has scored more goals than Reinhart.
Tkachuk represented the final missing piece for Florida, and while the trade might seem obvious in retrospect, Zito took a significant risk. He traded Jonathan Huberdeau immediately after a 115-point season, along with top-pairing defenseman Mackenzie Weegar and a first-round draft pick.
The argument that teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Vegas possess a significant advantage due to operating in states without income tax is often exaggerated and wasn`t a prominent issue 15 years ago when these franchises were not performing as well.
Every market has its unique benefits, but the Panthers are simply outperforming their competition fairly. As a result, hockey is successfully expanding its presence into diverse regions across the country.
Expanding the Game
For the NHL to continue broadening its audience and increasing revenue, it`s essential for teams in non-traditional markets to achieve success in various ways. This includes winning games, but also leveraging that success to foster grassroots participation and build a dedicated fan base.
This has been a key objective for the Panthers over the past decade, according to John Colombo, the team`s vice president of community relations, in an interview with CBS Sports. When asked about the core strategies for growing hockey in South Florida, Colombo offered a seemingly simple answer.
“Getting sticks in kids` hands,” he stated.
In a climate like Florida`s, where many sports are played year-round, it presents a greater challenge for hockey to establish a strong foothold in the market compared to more traditional hockey areas.
“In South Florida, you have the option to play virtually any sport 12 months a year,” Colombo explained. “So for us, the challenge is, `How do we compete with sports like soccer, where you just need an open field and a ball? Baseball is year-round. Football is year-round. How do you effectively compete with all these widely available sports?`”
One approach the Panthers have taken is offering young fans different forms of hockey with little to no financial barrier.
The team`s “Learn to Play” initiative provides children aged 5-9 with an opportunity to experience hockey through a six-week program, and they are allowed to keep the equipment afterward. This program saw a participation increase of 12.25% over the last year.
The Panthers Floorball Program is implemented in 560 schools across the area, providing free floorball equipment along with instructional materials for physical education teachers. The team is also developing a ball hockey program, ensuring young fans can be introduced to the sport in various ways without needing access to ice.
Furthermore, the Panthers have developed a “Girls Only” youth program, enabling girls to learn the game in a single-gender environment if they prefer. Not only are the teams exclusively female, but all the coaches are women as well.
These programs have demonstrated tangible results, and the overall growth in youth hockey participation has been impressive. Here are the statistics from USA Hockey:
- From the 2022-23 to the 2023-24 season, youth hockey participation in Florida increased by 8.4%, the highest growth rate of any state.
- Youth female participation surged by 9.4%, also among the highest rates nationally.
- Overall, youth hockey participation in Florida has risen by a substantial 73% since the 2012-13 season.
This significant growth figure is likely to climb even higher if the Panthers maintain their current level of success. Combined with the dedicated grassroots initiatives undertaken by teams like Florida, interest in hockey is poised for continued expansion.
“When we first arrived here [10 years ago], you`d often talk to a kid who played hockey, but it wasn`t something they prominently displayed or took great pride in,” Colombo reflected. “Our goal was to cultivate a culture where children are genuinely proud to be Panthers fans. The team`s performance on the ice certainly helps with that. Naturally, gaining more visibility for the Panthers is important. But I believe continuing these grassroots efforts is crucial.
“I think it`s absolutely vital to let these kids grow up as Panther fans, which is our ultimate aim.”
Long-Term Benefits for the NHL
Anyone overly concerned about potential TV ratings for a third straight Stanley Cup Final involving the Panthers—or a sixth consecutive Final featuring a team from Florida—might be missing the bigger picture.
If the NHL intends to improve its position among the major North American sports leagues, it must successfully expand its influence beyond its traditional strongholds. While an Original Six matchup in the Stanley Cup Final might generate better immediate TV and streaming numbers, it does little to pique the interest of potential fans outside those established hockey centers.
The Panthers have built an exciting team featuring legitimate star power, and the local community continues to show increasing enthusiasm for the franchise and the sport. This success provides the league with encouraging evidence that it can effectively extend its reach into less conventional hockey markets well into the future.
